Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News September 2019

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Vol. 6

No. 9

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

SEPTEMBER 2019

Beckwith Street debate reaches 'end of the road' in Smiths Falls

Smiths Falls - Emilie Must editorial@pd gmedia.ca

In what one councillor called the end of a “long and winding road,” Smiths Falls town council voted Tuesday, Sept. 3 to award a contract for the first phase of the redevelopment of Beckwith Street.

The contract, worth $2,333,810, is being awarded to Ottawa Greenbelt Construction Company Ltd. The town was notified July 15 that the provincial government will fund 90 per cent of the cost, $2,100,429, through the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario’s Connecting Links Program of 2019/20. Under the terms of the funding, the contract must be awarded by Sept. 30, and all the funds must be spent by March 31. Phase One of the redevelopment of Beckwith Street will see the replacement of both underground and service infrastructure along 320 metres of the street.

The need to replace the street’s century-old underground infrastructure has been facing council for decades. Introducing the bylaw to authorize the start of the first phase, Councillor Wendy Alford, who previously served on council in the 1990s, said, “It’s been a long and winding road, and we have finally arrived.”

The details of the design for the redeveloped street have generated controversy since a consultant’s recommendations were initially presented to the previous council in December of 2017. The consulting firm, Parsons, noted that in public information sessions a great deal of feedback was received expressing a desire to keep the street’s existing angle parking.

However, when the firm presented its report at the end of 2017, its recommendation was to proceed with a “complete street” design featuring bicycle lanes and a switch from angle

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Smiths Falls’ Beckwith Street will take on a different look, as the town plans to replace the existing angle parking with parallel parking, to provide room for cycle tracks and wider sidewalks. A vote to proceed with the first phase of the project took place Sept. 3. Photo credit: Emilie Must

to parallel parking in order to provide the space for both cycle tracks and wider sidewalks.

“Most research suggests parallel parking results in less accidents than angled parking,” Parsons’ report stated.

However, when debate and a final vote on the design took place, a majority of council members voted for a second option presented in the consultants’ report, which retained angle parking.

The matter was settled until after the October 2018 municipal election, which saw the election of four new council members, a majority of whom supported revisiting the design of Beckwith Street. Further debate resulted in a vote to reverse the previous council’s decision, and switch to the “complete

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street” design including cycle tracks and parallel parking.

This decision resulted in weekly protests in front of town hall during subsequent council meetings. At a recent meeting of council’s Committee of the Whole on Monday, Aug. 26, Councillors Jay Brennan and Niki Dwyer continued to express opposition to the decision to phase out angle parking, and made clear they would not vote to proceed with it.

“The problem I have with it is it’s a design no one likes,” said Brennan at the Aug. 26 meeting. “I won’t be supporting it.”

Although she refused to vote in favour of the complete street design, Dwyer said Sept. 3 that she was supportive of the work of Public Works Director Troy Dunlop in successfully nego-

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tiating with Ottawa Greenbelt Construction Co. for a reduction of $1.36 million in the cost of the project’s first phase.

Brennan requested a recorded vote at the Sept. 3 meeting, and he and Dwyer voted against signing the contract.

The vote was carried, however, with Mayor Shawn Pankow and Councillors Alford, Peter McKenna, Lorraine Allen, and Chris McGuire voting in favour.

The Sept. 3 council meeting was held in the upstairs hall of the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre. As the vote was called, a group of about 30 members of the public who have been protesting to retain angle parking left their seats and walked out.

The meeting was also the

occasion for a report from Public Works Director Dunlop on recommendations arising from a working group on handicapped accessibility issues related to the street redevelopment. Reporting that the group’s recommendations actually exceed existing accessibility standards for designated parking spaces, Dunlop said, “We’re very pleased to report that we’ll have overall support from at least the working group members.”

The group included Marshall Hogan, who recently expressed concerns about accessibility in a delegation to council. “The design is supported by Mr. Hogan himself,” said Dunlop.

The deadline to complete Phase One of the redevelopment is December of 2020.

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September 2019

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Page Two

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle

September is here and the Back to School season is upon us. I’ve always felt like September was a miniature January: full of new beginnings, welcoming a new (school) year, colder temperatures (and after the humidity of a hot Eastern Ontario summer, the crisp glory of autumn is a distinct delight).

I was never one of those kids who dreaded going back to school.

Back to school! With new-to-me clothes, freshly sharpened pencils, pristine erasers, and pages and pages of looseleaf to fill, Back to School might be better than Christmas. I have always loved reading and writing (editing for Hometown News is a bit of a dream come true for me), and I reveled in heading back to school like athletic kids rejoice at the start of hockey season.

Of course, it never occurred to me that my children might have different opinions on the subject. My little daughter is a voracious writer and reader like her mama, but this year, as September and a new school year rolled closer and closer, she would squirm every time the subject came up. Finally, I asked her to tell me about it. ‘School!’ she cried, ‘That word just rumbles around in my head and reminds me of all the things I am afraid

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opinion: We can do hard things

Hometownnews

By Janelle Labelle

Publisher

Photography

Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

Kathy Botham

of. A new grade. Hard- difficult things, and we Advertising: er work. New teachers. are stronger than we advertising@pdgmedia.ca Editor Finding my way to a know. We can read, editorial@pdgmedia.ca new classroom. All the write, make friends, and Submissions Hard Things.” And she learn … we are strong editorial@pdgmedia.ca pressed her face into me enough for this.

Reporters and cried.

Yes; this is the reKathy Botham For someone who minder that comes to Got an Event Sally Smith loved school, I am not us each September.

Sarah Cavanagh events@pdgmedia.ca a terribly quick learner. Whether we are heading Chris Must This is her fourth Sep- back to school, sending Janelle Labelle Pdg Media tember in school, and our kids on their first Brian Turner 1 Chambers Street every one of them has Emilie Must day, or starting a new Smiths Falls, ON K7A 2Y1 John Kessel been hard for her. A chapter in life, rememPhone: (613) 206-0708 month of Hard Things. contactus@pdgmedia.ca I thought back to the ber: We Can Do Hard year her big brother Things. started school. THAT was the year I wasn’t quite so eager to see all the Back to School signs in stores, and I might have even burst into tears when I bought his first lunchbox. But of course, his learning was well worth it.

So I dug deep and asked her some questions. ‘Do you like to read and write?’ ‘You know I do,’ she replied.

‘Do you like making friends?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Do you like when your teachers teach you something new?’ ‘Sometimes.’ ‘Do you like when they’re proud of you?’ ‘Yes.’ And I whispered to her the wisdom that older people have been passing down to younger people from the dawn of time: My darling, we can do hard things because it’s worth it. It’s worth the discomfort of being afraid and of getting it wrong sometimes. Anything worth having comes from being brave enough to try Whitney's Book & Gift Store in downtown Smiths Falls, Beckwith Street, circa 1950. Do you remember picking up your

Whitney's Book & Gift Store

school supplies here every fall? Photo Credit: The Smiths Falls Heritage House Museum

September 2019

3

community Town receives infrastructure funding for Central Bridge

SCOTT REID, MP HAS TWO OFFICES TO SERVE YOU! CARLETON PLACE AND PERTH If you require assistance with Service Canada, Canada Revenue Agency, Passports and the Phoenix Pay system, please contact my staff. We are able to provide congratulatory certiicates to mark signiicant milestones in your family.

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Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Carleton Place is celebrating the recent announcement by the Honourable Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure of $4,166,500 in combined federal/provincial funding for the replacement of the Town’s Central Bridge under the Rural and Northern funding stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (CIP). This $30 billion infrastructure funding program, focussing on roads and bridges, air and marine infrastructure, provides funding to municipal governments and indigenous communities with a population less than 100,000 of which there are about 500 in Ontario.

In October 2018, the Town applied for Top-Up funding under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) and was waiting to hear back on its application. In March of this year, the Province announced that it would not be proceeding with the OCIF program. Instead, they indicated that anyone who would have been successful under the OCIF program would be eligible for “fast-tracking” un-

der the new CIP. Carleton Place was notified that it had been selected to be fast-tracked for its Central Bridge project.

The replacement of the Central Bridge is a multi-faceted project which involves many components requiring synchronization in terms of both work and timing in order to allow the project to proceed. The components of the project include the following which will be completed over three years commencing in 2019 with design components: • Rehabilitation of Gillies bridge • Installation of a water main crossing at McAr thur Island • Safety improvements for pedestrian access at Mill Street

• Utility (natural gas, water and communica tions) relocations • Replacement of Cen tral Bridge • Reconstruction of Bell Street • Review of treatment op tions for storm sewer adjacent to Central Bridge The total estimated cost for all components, including design, construction, and management of the

project during construction is approximately $9 million.

Under the program parameters, however, the Town was limited to applying for an amount not exceeding $5 million. Based on its $5 million application, the Town will be receiving funding as follows: • 50% or $2,499,999.95 from the Federal Gov ernment; • 33% or $1,666,499.97 from the Provincial Government • 16.67% or $833,500.08 from the Town “The Central Bridge project is the largest and most expensive infrastructure project facing the Town of Carleton Place in the next few years,” noted Mayor Black. “This funding will assist the Town greatly with the significant cost of the project and we thank all partners who played a role in our success.”

Dave Young, Director of Public Works stated the following upon hearing the news of the grant award, “This is the largest infrastructure grant the Town has received in decades. The last one of this magnitude was received in the 1990’s when the waste water treatment plant upgrades were completed.”

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opinion: Safety versus civil rights: have things gone too far?

Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca A Smiths Falls man is feels that his rights have been eroded following a sobering encounter with Canada’s new drunk driving laws.

The long-time resident, who is in his seventies, drove home after making a purchase at a local eating establishment. Shortly after arriving home he heard loud knocking on his door.

When he responded, a police officer told him he was suspected of drunk driving and would have to take a breathalyser test. The man, who has asked not to be identified, told the Hometown News that he was taken out into the street in front of his neighbours and forced to take the test, which registered an “alert.”

He claims that he had consumed only one beer before leaving the house.

An alert results from a blood alcohol reading above .05 but below .08 (which means 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood). Although not legally impaired, the town resident’s licence was suspended on the spot for three days, he said. After three days he was required to go to the local Ministry of Transport office and reactivate the licence – at a cost of more than $500.

The public humiliation (which included being asked to place both hands on the police car and submit to a search) and the cost of getting his licence back are only part of what bothers the Smiths Falls man about this incident. “I’m very careful with my licence,” he said, adding that he always arranges for someone else to drive whenever he goes out and plans to have a few drinks. As well, he was told

by police that the establishment he visited to buy food called the authorities because he appeared to be unsteady on his feet. This, he said, is due to a combination of his age (mid-seventies) and the fact that the establishment had recently installed a set of rickety wooden steps.

That a man can be removed from his own home and forced to take a breathalyser will come as a surprise to anyone accustomed to the previous laws concerning impaired driving, under which “care and control of a vehicle” had certain clearly defined limits. An individual could be charged if found sleeping in a car (rather than actually driving it) while impaired, for example, because he could conceivably wake up and decide to drive.

The incident described above occurred even though information posted on the website of the federal Department of Justice clearly states that police cannot “come to your house two hours after you arrive home and demand a breath sample.” In fact, states the Justice Department, “Mandatory alcohol screening can only be used if you, as the driver are in care and control of the vehicle, have been lawfully stopped, and if the police officer has the approved screening device in hand.”

When new federal laws were introduced at the end of 2018, they drew widespread criticism for giving the police the power to require any driver to take a breathalyser test without cause. In an opinion column written for CBC news last September, lawyer Brian Pfefferle expressed concern that this new police power is unnecessary,

and could result in criminal convictions for sober drivers who might believe they have the right to refuse to take a breathalyser.

Refusing to take the test is actually a criminal offence meriting the same penalties as failing the test.

Under previous laws, police could make a roadside breath demand of any person they suspected may have alcohol in their system. This was known as the "reasonable suspicion" standard. Reasonable suspicion could result from the odour of alcohol on a person's breath, open alcohol containers, an admission of drinking, “glassy” eyes, or erratic driving. Experienced police officers had little difficulty finding probably cause to stop a possible impaired driver.

Lawyers have also expressed concern that the new powers given to police may become a pretext to harass members of minority groups.

In any case, drunk driving-related convictions can result in life-changing criminal records, lengthy driving suspensions and possible deportation in the case of non-residents. Ironically, those convicted of refusing a breathalyser often face harsher administrative penalties, such as higher fines, than those who were actually driving impaired.

Pfefferle stated that in his opinion, the new amendments to the Criminal Code will inevitably lead to numerous legal challenges under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In the meantime, our Smiths Falls driver wanted to share his story in the hope of educating other members of the public about the risks of driving after consuming any amount of alcohol at all.

September 2019

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community

Perth council looks for answers to Little Tay River low water levels Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Perth is known for its Little Tay River and beautiful scenery, but current low water levels are causing unwanted algae to grow.

In 2015 council decided to remove the dam controlling the river flow and install a rocky ramp. Since then,

water levels have decreased annually. Council discussed how to remedy the situation at the meeting Tuesday, Aug. 27.

“We created the problem.

We decided to take out concrete controlled dams and put in the rocky ramp,” Mayor John Fenik said. “If you go and walk the canal, that Little

Tay is no longer a canal and the algae and the growth is happening because the water is stagnant. Waiting is not acceptable to me.”

Councillor Judy Brown suggested having the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority staff biologist help find a solution.

“The canal is under the

jurisdiction of Parks Canada,” Councillor Brown said.

“I don’t know what we can do other than make a lot of noise.”

Concerned neighbours of the Little Tay were also present at the meeting.

“Next year when the algae grows into and stinks up Stewart Park we won’t

be known as the prettiest town, we’ll be known for the town with the biggest little swamp,” Mayor Fenik said.

Water flow must be restored via Parks Canada and a representative will speak to council at a future meeting.

“The Friends of the Tay also want the data and they aren’t being allowed to have

the data,” Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson said. “They’re doing their own studies in comparison.”

The issue was referred to the next committee of the whole meeting on Sept. 24.

“It’s going to get worse every year. I think it’s time we do something about it,” Councillor Barry Smith said.

Rideau Ferry man’s love of astrology spans half a century Regional - John Kessell editorial@pdgmedia.ca

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The image is seared in his mind. It’s the moment he decided to learn everything he could about astronomy.

It was the grainy, black and white TV broadcast moment of Neil Armstrong’s first foot-fall on the moon.

“It was surreal,” he says.

Frank Hitchins remembers that moment like it was yesterday, not 50 years ago.

Aug. 20. He was 12 years old in Yarmouth, NS, visiting his uncle when he saw the image on the tube. On the ride home, in the back of his uncle’s car he remembers staring out the back window, mesmerized while looking up at the moon, knowing there “was a man up there.”

After that experience, an inspired Frank went home to mow lawns and do odd jobs to buy his first telescope, a Sears 16mm Tasko scope. “It was through that I first saw the rings of Saturn.

It blew me away.”

He talks as if he was predestined to become an amateur astrologist. “I was born the year Sputnik launched, 1957.” His father was a machinist with Canada’s only jet fighter, the Avro Arrow, scrapped by the Diefenbaker government in 1959. He’s a realist too. With his father dying when he was 12, he knew he would have to go to work even before finish-

Frank Hitchins with his telescope. Photo credit: John Kessell.

ing high school. A university education was not in the cards. He became a truck driver as soon as he was old enough and still drives one, a Bang Fuels tanker.

Today, he not only reads everything about astrology, he also passes the information on, having lectured at Lanark County, Ottawa, Kingston and Kemptville libraries. He admires the writing of astrophysicist Carl Sagan. “There is no one that writes science like Sagan.”

The message Frank passes on deals with life elsewhere in the universe. He’s convinced that within 20 years that life, whatever form it comes in, will be discovered by scientists since water has already been found on the moon and Mars. “Scientists need to determine what life is as they may not realize they’ve bumped into it.” Life

could even be found on a planet’s moons, he adds.

Frank has appeared in liquor store parking lots when there’s an eclipse, allowing others to look through his telescope, a lot more advanced than the one he had at 12. And occasionally, he can be spotted observing nature with his scope – peeking in on Ospreys nesting near his Rideau Ferry home.

“They are right in your face,” drawing a picture frame with his fingers, “when you look at them through the scope, they’re right in your face. Full frame..”

Would he go to the moon today? Sure, but he knows it’s a pipe dream. In fact, he doesn’t think man should go back to the moon or fly to mars.

“What are you going to do once you’re there? I don’t see a rationale behind it. Robots can do the job.”

Bill 108 forces MVCA to consider future of Mill of Kintail Museum Regional - John Kessell editorial@pdgmedia.ca Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) has begun to review programs and services in order to manage new funding constraints imposed by Provincial Bill 108 (More Homes, More Choice Act), passed in June 2019. The legislation and a recent letter received from Minister Yurek emphasize the need for MVCA to focus on the following core areas: risk of natural hazards; conservation and management of CA-owned or controlled lands; drinking water source protection; and other programs or services, as prescribed by regulation.

Consequently, staff are reconsidering the direction set out in the Draft Strategic Plan prepared earlier this year for the

Mill of Kintail Museum.

“The regulation expected this fall will likely limit core funding to these types of museums,” said MVCA General Manager Sally McIntyre. “We need to discuss and agree on how we will keep this heritage building open for community use, and provide the community the opportunity to pursue other options and prepare an alternative business case for consideration by the MVCA Board. That discussion needs to occur now because the province will not release this year’s museum grant until the Strategic Plan “containing long-term goals and objectives” is approved by the Board.”

A staff report to be tabled at the Policy & Priorities Committee on September 5 presents five options for consideration,

including transitioning the museum focus away from the R. Tait McKenzie and James Naismith collections to more closely align with the legislated mandate of conservation authorities. The Committee’s recommendation will be raised to the Board of Directors at its September 18th meeting, after which the draft Strategic Plan will be amended by staff as directed by the Board, and tabled for approval in October. All three meetings are open to the public.

“The Mill of Kintail building is a jewel in our portfolio. R. Tait McKenzie and James Naismith are persons of historical significance in the community, and the museum and its collection are highly regarded across the region. Staff ’s recommendation respect both these

The Mill of Kintail is a 154 acre site where you can enjoy day hiking, skiing or snowshoeing on the trails. The Mill of Kintail Conservation Area is also home to the R. Tait McKenzie Memorial Museum and the James Naismith Museum. Photo credit: ontarioconservationareas.ca

facts.” says McIntyre.

MVCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario. Formed in

1968, the MVCA manages the watershed in partnership with its eleven member municipalities. For

more information, visit www.mvc.on.ca, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

September 2019

5

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Three arrested following rash of break-ins in Smiths Falls Smiths Falls - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Three Smiths Falls men have been arrested for allegedly breaking into several homes in town over the past few weeks.

Richard Halladay, 59, of South Elmsley Township and Adam Jackson, 33, of Smiths Falls were arrested and charged with breaking and entering on Aug. 23.

On Aug. 28 Kyle Wallace, 31, was arrested and charged with numerous break and enters in town, trespassing by night and breach of probation.

News about break-ins across town quickly spread on social media, along with a list of more than 20 streets hit by burglars.

Smiths Falls Police and the OPP arrested three men for possible connections to the break-ins, but as recently as Aug. 28 another break-in was reported.

“The incidents began in the area in late July, with most break-ins and thefts occurring at night at homes in Smiths Falls,” the Smiths Falls police services wrote in a press release. “There have been no injuries.”

The Smiths Falls police shared a press release advising the public to keep their doors locked, especially during the summer months

Police Chief Mark MacGillivray asked Smiths Falls council for money to buy upgraded radio equipment at the committee of the whole meeting on Aug. 26. Photo credit: Emilie Must.

when security may be lessened.

Panic spread as residents shared feelings of unease on Facebook. Residents are feeling unsafe with some saying they were not able to sleep.

One woman who did not wish to be named told the Hometown News that she chased a burglar away after he stole her wallet and jewellery box. She was especially upset over the loss of her late husband’s wedding ring. He died in July.

On Aug. 27 a video was shared showing a kitchen completely destroyed after the house was broken into.

The homeowner’s grandson uploaded the video that has since been deleted.

It appears that senior citizens may have been targeted.

“We just saw the tip of

the iceberg of the work that went into catching the bad guys. Thank you to the Smiths Falls police service and the OPP,” Councillor Wendy Alford said at an Aug. 26 meeting of Smiths Falls town council.

More investigation is needed after more break-ins were reported after the initial arrests were made.

“I am pleased that search warrants were executed and that people have been arrested and charged,” Mayor Shawn Pankow said by email. “These actions are a great example of hard work leading to results from both our police service and the OPP.” None of these charges have been proven in court as the investigation is ongoing.

September 2019

6

lifestyle Perth Inside Out:

Terry O'Hearn

Blue Devil basketball camp celebrates 30 years

Long before the Toronto Raptors captured the attention of Canadians on the way to a 2019 NBA championship, Perth and District Collegiate Institute teacher-coach Kevin Bellamy was already focused on the sport of basketball. He was coaching and working at camps by the age of 15, and knew by then he wanted to teach Physical Education and coach sports.

Bellamy was mentored for a time by legendary Carleton University Ravens coach Dave Smart, winner of 14 national titles since 19992000, including the 20182019 crown. “I played for Dave on the very first Ottawa Carleton Guardsmen,” said Bellamy. “The Guardsmen came into being in 1985, and making the team is to be involved with the pre-eminent boys’ basketball program in Ontario. I then played on the provincial team in the summer of 1990 and was a teammate of Rowan Barrett, Director of Canada Basketball and father of R. J. Barrett, who was recently drafted by the New York Knicks.” That provincial team won gold at the U19 boys National Basketball Championships in Cape Breton the same year.

Also in 1990, Bellamy helped coach at the first annual Blue Devil Basketball Camp, started by PDCI coach and Athletic Director Joe Marriner. “Joe started the camp because of the rise in popularity of the game in general and the rise in popularity of the sport in our school and was the grassroots for our High School basketball program. At the time I began Tigers Basket-

ball. I went on to work with Joe and shared an office with him for twelve years.

“When I finished university I took over all aspects of the camp. The development camp is for all skill levels, and has always been inclusive.

Tigers Basketball is named after Dalhousie University Tigers, one of the two schools I played university basketball for. The other team was the Queen’s University Golden Gaels.”

Bellamy attributes the longevity of the camp in part to a three hour session in the morning. “Kids find it easy to work hard for three hours, as do the coaches. A full day sports camp can be exhausting,” He went on to explain that it also prevents the camp from becoming a day care, and the campers are the ones who want to learn the game.

Typically campers are age seven to fourteen for Blue Devil camp, and six to thirteen for Perth Tigers’ spring and fall camp.

Sean Christy and Jackson Bannon are the adult coaches, and the student coaches are all very good players who are a product of the system.

Two of those assistant coaches are sons Ben and Will, ages 19 and 17 respectively. Bellamy says that “Having them beside me at camp after three decades of teaching basketball is very special to me.

They have enjoyed the benefits of sport in basketball, and Ben has been a successful runner, with Will excelling in golf.”

Coach Bannon is the manager for junior and senior boys’ basketball at PDCI, and he is also an assistant coach for our senior boys’ team.

Bellamy describes Bannon as “a very important person in our basketball program.

Although he came from a hockey background, playing goalie in college at Potsdam, and had little basketball experience, his perspective is seen as original and helpful.”

As the other adult assistant, Christy is in his fourth year in the PDCI grade seven

and eight school, and is considered an elite level coach.

“He brings an elementary background to our high school program and also an original angle on things. He has won OFSAA championships at Rideau High School as a player and as a coach, and he now coaches track and field and x-country.”

Several players who went through the Blue Devil program, and played for the high school team, have gone on to play at university. “But more importantly we have had all kinds of kids use basketball to help them stay on a really good ‘life path’ through the challenge of adolescence.

This is what I am most proud of. My love for basketball and competition got me through university.”

Bellamy has big plans for PDCI basketball over the next five years, “but most of the plans and training will take place through our school system. My community basketball program is nearing the end. It’s time that we grow and take things to the next level with more community teams and programs with a larger organization.”

“Providing a positive experience at summer camp and in our winter community program made my day job (at PDCI) even more enjoyable. Having built a previous relationship with the kids, and providing a fun, positive experience made my day job easy. I absolutely love my job.

The kids at PDCI are awesome,” Having watched the Perth Tigers and Blue Devil camps myself for more than a decade, it never ceases to amaze how the power of sports can help boys and girls find their way in life. They most certainly come out the other side of those camps with a new sense of confidence and self-esteem, ready to take on the world.

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

Kevin Bellamy oversees the 2019 Blue Devil Basketball camp on its 30th anniversary. Photo submitted.

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Experience, Empathy help when moving seniors

Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca

With 20 years behind her at the Perley and Rideau Veteran’s Health Centre, Louisa Hickson knows what moving in, or moving out, is all about. There are sad times, moments of laughter, some tears … and a lot of work.

Hickson lives in Smiths Falls now, and her new business — Dignity in Transition — is just getting off the ground. She’s watched the turmoil and anguish of seniors being moved into a care home, and the sadness of dismantling a room after death, and decided, after retiring, to put this experience to work.

The almost 58-year-old has never stopped working. She started at 15 in Dominica, a small island of 71,000 people in the Caribbean. Her father was a farmer. She says very matter-of-factly they all had after-school chores and worked to help their parents. She adds that she learned to sew from a seamstress in the village.

“I can do so many things with a needle,” she laughs, like smocking or sewing tufted satin pillows.

Her first task in helping move a senior in or out is an assessment. What do they want, she asks. “I look at the situation, find out when they want to move, ask how much they can take, and talk to the home where they’re going.” She works closely with the family, and the senior — especially when it comes to what trinkets and keepsakes to take. And measurements are a must at the future home to help decide what can go where in the new lodgings.

Having worked with many veterans at the Per-

Louisa Hickson helps ease the transition of moving out of a home into a seniors’ residence. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

ley — Hickson chuckles remembering some of the characters — she’s confident she can deal with the foibles, the anxiety of moving on, and either the delight or tears of moving into a new home.

During her time at the Perley, she also owned a small store — Echoes of Time Past — with a business partner. She knows where to donate no-longer-needed furniture (Habitat for Humanity or the Salvation Army), and clothing, adding that Habitat for Humanity often gives a tax receipt. She will organize an auction, if

needed. Although her base is Smiths Falls, her desire is to reach out to the small towns of Lanark County (which includes Carleton Place and Perth), as well as Merrickville, Kemptville and even Brockville.

She agrees it’s not easy changing your life but offers her health care experience, her competence and just the living skills she’s picked up over the past five decades to make a move easier and less stressful.

Give her a call at 613-8832877, go to her website at www.dignityintransition. com or email her at louisahi@sympatico.ca

September 2019

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lifestyle

Smiths Falls to host OFSAA championship in 2021

Photo courtesy of Todd Spencer.

opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

Lemonade Stand

I helped my 5-year-old daughter make lemonade once. We loaded it up with lots of ice, added enough sugar (but not too much) and squeezed a cutting board full of fresh juicy lemons. It was the best homemade lemonade I’d ever tasted. I watched from the front window on one of the hottest days of the year as she poured her juice at the end of our driveway in her sundress and baseball cap. She insisted on doing this herself. “I got this, Mom” she said. She believed in herself. She had no reason not to. At 5 years old she had nothing to lose. Her sign attracted our neighbours and a bunch of construction workers that just so happened to be working on our street.

As I stood and watched her confidence build with every customer she served, I thought to myself, why do we stop believing in ourselves and when do we let our own fear get in the way of letting our kids fail and fall? There was a time when we didn’t know the things that we now know because we tried something and gained experience. Although the stakes are often higher than a bee sting and some leftover lemonade, we must grab fear by the arm and say, “come on, we’re doing this.”

Sara Blakely, the billionaire entrepreneur who founded Spanx said her Dad would high five her every time she failed. All her ideas were encouraged, and she was applauded for making mistakes. As a result, she was never afraid to fail.

Try again, fail again, fail better. What a wonderful way to parent our children.

What a wonderful way to parent ourselves. Often, it’s the biggest mistakes that offer us our most valuable lessons. Courage is like a muscle that we strengthen

with each use. There’s a quote by Mickey Hart, the drummer for the Grateful Dead, “Adventures don’t begin until you get into the forest. That first step is an act of Faith.”

As I lost sight of my daughter in the airport security line on her way to Barcelona, Spain for a year long Rotary youth exchange, I thought oh my, what am I doing? What if she gets robbed or lost or hates her host family or has a panic attack? Then I remembered that lemonade stand at the end of our driveway and the confidence she has built over the past 12 years trying new things failing and falling that have led her to this point. Then just as a mother bird pushes her baby bird out of the nest to teach them how to fly, I too felt like I had given my daughter some wings that day.

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.

Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca As many as 800 high school athletes, coaches, referees and family members will be coming to Smiths Falls in March of 2021 as the community hosts the provincial AA boys’ basketball championships.

“This is the marquee high competition for the entire

province,” said Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute (SFDCI) basketball coach Todd Spencer. ”We’re very excited about the opportunity to show folks the true character of our great community.”

On behalf of SFDCI, Spencer submitted a formal bid to host the OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations) championship, which will see the top teams from the federation’s 18 regional districts competing for the top honours.

The bid was submitted in the spring of 2017, and Spencer was informed the following spring that SFDCI had been selected.

The bid was submitted in the form of a concise two-page application form. “You get one page, front and back, to sell your school and your community,” said Spencer. “I highlighted the strength and character and spirit of our community, and highlighted the collaborative athletics Redhawks team at our school.”

Spencer said the school’s task now is to assemble a competitive team for the championship. The Redhawks actually won gold at the same competition

in North Bay in 2011. The coach noted that as the host community, the SFDCI team will compete in the championship regardless of the outcome of the rest of the season.

The coach is currently involved in planning an official launch and celebration event, tentatively booked for Friday, Sept. 27 at the Settlers Ridge Centre. The event is expected to include an outdoor basketball game and opening ceremony. The community at large will be invited to the opening, especially potential sponsors and volunteers. Spencer said he hopes members of the 2011 gold medal team will attend, as well as other Redhawks alumni. 2021 will mark the 10th anniversary of that gold medal win.

In 2021, Spencer said he wants to ensure that outof-town visitors have a memorable experience and see the best that Smiths Falls has to offer. A committee will be formed with responsibility for individual tasks including tournament programs, the opening banquet, and arranging accommodations.

“The event needs to be very well organized,” said Spencer.

Perth Enrichment Program for seniors opens in Smiths Falls

Pauline Fitchett describes the benefits of PEP to Smiths Falls council on Monday, Aug. 26.

Photo credit: Emilie Must.

Smiths Falls - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca The Perth Enrichment Program (PEP) is now open in Smiths Falls every Thursday at 91 Cornelia St., Pauline Fitchett told council at a meeting on Monday, Aug. 26.

“It’s geared towards a frail senior who is a bit older with chronic issues who may be feeling isolated at home,” Fitchett said.

On Thursdays, seniors can enjoy an hour of exercise as well as therapeutic programming geared towards improving cognitive function.

The $35 program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a meal from Two Guys for Lunch.

“We try to enrich their lives, but they end up enriching our lives as well,” Fitchett said.

The program started in Perth after Dr. Bob Van Noppen saw lonely seniors coming into his office day after day and wanted to find a way to brighten their lives. It runs Monday to Friday in Perth on Elliot Street.

PEP is run in partnership with the United Way of Lanark County and received enough funding to

hire three full-time employees.

Not only does the program help seniors, but also it gives respite to their caregivers and family members.

“This is a great service,” Councilor Lorraine Allen said. “Many of us have aging parents and this would be a wonderful asset for them.”

Perth Town and Country Chrysler offered a van to drive seniors back and forth to the program.

Fitchett says she hopes the service will come to Smiths Falls in the future.

NOW OPEN ENJOY 18 HOLES OF GOLF

OR PLAY A ROUND OF DISK GOLF Stone Baked Pizzas Licensed Club House Comedy & Theatre on the Greens

613-283-5318 · www.rollinggreens.ca

Presents:

St. Paul’s Harvest Supper is ready to get cooking in Almonte Smiths Falls - Jane Hobson editorial@pdgmedia.ca St. Paul’s Anglican Church is busily preparing for the annual Harvest Dinner fundraiser at the Almonte Civitan Community Hall coming up on September 27.

Open to the town of Almonte and surrounding areas, the informal community event offers a buffet of all the traditional Thanksgiving staples at an affordable price from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Attendees are invited to fill up on roasted turkey, carrots, mashed potatoes, a variety of salads, homemade pies and more.

“Not every Lanark County family has the resources to prepare and serve a full turkey dinner this Thanksgiving,” said event organizer Sandra

Cain. “In fact, for a lot of people, [the Harvest Dinner] is the only Thanksgiving meal they have.”

While the exact date of the inaugural Harvest Dinner is unknown, Cain said some members of the church, which was built in 1863, remember their own mothers helping organize the event back in the early 1980s. It used to be hosted in the quaint church basement but moved to the Civitan Hall in 2004 to accommodate the growing number of attendees.

“We prepare to serve about 600 meals,” said Cain. “In the past, the dinner has fed as many as 700 people. That’s about 25 turkeys and 110 pies.”

Adult tickets sell for $18 in advance and $19 at the door. Kids younger than 13 years old eat for $8. Tickets

are available for purchase online at harvestsupper. ca or at Baker Bob’s in Almonte. Fifty cents of every ticket purchased is donated to the Lanark County Food Bank.

The public is also invited to make a $13.50 donation which purchases a ticket for the Lanark County Food Bank to hand out to its patrons.

“Every year, anywhere from 50 to 75 tickets are donated to the Food Bank,” said Cain. “And $500 to $1,000 is donated from ticket purchases alone.”

For those who can’t make it to the Civitan Hall on time, the Harvest Dinner also has a pick-up service and can deliver food to people who cannot leave their home. In the past, Cain says some

Fri., September 27

4:00pm to 7:00pm

Civitan Hall

Harvest Supper Civitan Hall, 500 Almonte Street, Almonte attendees have even been picked up and brought to the feast by volunteers.

“Anybody and everybody is welcome,” she explains.

The Harvest Dinner used to primarily raise funds for St. Paul’s, but the church began partnering

Volunteers prepare food for the St. Paul’s Harvest Dinner fundraiser in Almonte in a previous year. Photo credit: Jane Hobson.

with the Food Bank about four years ago when it became the program’s Almonte distribution location for people to pick up food. And, the generosity comes full circle when The Food Bank donates its extra supplies, such as extra cranberry sauces, to the

Harvest Dinner.

“This is what makes it such a community,” said Cain. “Traditions weave the fabric of a community. They are important to make [people] feel like [they’re] part of something that is bigger than them.”

Events around the region CARLETON PLACE Sundays

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

Tuesdays

Olde Time Bingo 7:00pm - 9:15pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 Carletonplacecivitan.com

September 6

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

September 7

Mudds Jr. Auditions: Frozen 10:00am - 2:00pm Carleton Place Arena 75 Neelin St. 613-257-1690 muddsmississippi@gmail.com Mississippimudds.ca

September 8

Lanark County Harvest Festival 11:00am - 4:00pm Beckwith Park 1319 9th Line, Beckwith lanarkcountytourism.com/ harvestfestival

Harvest Church Supper

4:00pm - 6:00pm Beckwith Recreational Complex 1319 9th Line Rd., Beckwith Harvestsupper.ca

September 10 & 17

Square Dancing Open House 7:30pm - 9:30pm Brunton Hall 1702 9th Line, Beckwith mississippisquares.ca

September 10 & 24

Hackberry Men's Shed 7:30am The Gourmet Restaurant Hwy 7 at Hwy 15 almontecarver@gmail.com 613-461-0013

September 11

Cookbook Book Club 6:00pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 carletonplace.ca/library-c234.php

September 12

Toastmasters 7:00pm - 8:30pm Riverview Seniors' Residence 204 Lake Ave. 613-250-9282

September 12, 17 & 21

CP Curling Registration Sept. 12 at 7:00pm - 9:00pm Sept. 17 at 2:00pm - 4:00pm and 7:00pm - 9:00pm Sept. 21 at 8:00am - 11:00am Carleton Place Curling Club 120 Patterson Cr. 613-257-1944 Cpcurling.ca

September 13

Light Up the Labyrinth 6:30pm - 9:00pm Carleton Place Community Labyrinth CP Beckwith Heritage Museum 267 Edmund St. 613-859-2136 Carletonplacecommunitylabyrinth.blogspot.com

September 14

RCMP Musical Ride 2:00pm Carleton Place High School 215 Lake Ave. W. 613-253-7013 Cpbheritagemuseum.com

September 15

Pipes & Drums 2:00pm Carleton Place Legion 177 George St September 16 & 30 Hackberry Men's Shed 7:00pm - 8:30pm Hackberry Men's Shed Opposite 98 Donald St. almontecarver@gmail.com 613-461-0013

September 19

Take Back the Night 6:30pm Carleton Place Town Hall 175 Bridge St 613-257-3469

September 20

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

September 23

DIY Make & Take Craft Night 6:30pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 carletonplace.ca/library-c234.php

September 23

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

September 28

Brett Pearson Run for Your Life 9:00am - 2:00pm Carleton Place Town Square 15 Mill St.

September 30

Wellness Workshop: Light 6:00pm Carleton Place Library 101 Beckwith St. 613-257-2702 carletonplace.ca/library-c234.php

MERRICKVILLE

September 20

FoSH: Harry Manx 7:30pm Merrickville United Church 100 St. Lawrence St. Thefestivalofsmallhalls.com

September 28 - 29, Oct. 5 - 6 Merrickville Artists' Guild Studio Tour 10:00am - 5:00pm Mill St. mag-artists.ca

MISSISSIPPI MILLS

Sundays

Sitting on Sundays 10:00am - 11:00am Big Stone House 218 Strathburn angie@bigstonehouse.ca Bigstonehouse.ca

Mondays

Cancer Support Group 10:00am - 11:00am Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-726-8040 Storytelling Workshop 7:00pm - 8:30pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com

Tuesdays

Message in a Bottle 6:30pm - 9:00pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com Music Trivia 8:00pm Almonte Lobby Bar in Alm Riverside Inn 81 Queen St. facebook.com/almontelobbybar

Wednesdays

Duplicate Bridge Club 7:00pm Almonte Legion 100 Bridge St. 613-256-4747 MVFN Birding Open House 3:00pm - 5:00pm Wolf Grove Rd. & Conc 8 Across from Auld Kirk Cemetery mvfn.ca

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

September 5

Sept. 19 at 9:00am - 12:00pm Almonte Curling Club 160 Bridge St. Almonte.ovca.com

Seniors' Expo 10:00am - 3:00pm Almonte Community Centre 182 Bridge St. info@themills.on.ca 613-256-1031 Carebridge.ca

September 20

Storytelling Open Mic: Home 7:00pm - 9:00pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com

September 21

September 6

September 7

Mississippi Mills River Run & Walk 7:30am - 12:00pm Almonte Fairgrounds 195 Water St. 613-256-5600 Almontehospitalfoundation.com Meet the Artists: Gayle Kells & Catherine Gutsche 3:00pm - 6:00pm Sivarulrasa Gallery 34 Mill St. info@sivarulrasa.com 613-256-8033 sivarulrasa.com

September 7 & 8

Quilters' Guild Quilt Show Sept. 7 at 9:00am - 5:00pm Sept. 8 at 9:00am - 4:00pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St. almontequiltersguild@gmail.com Almontequiltersguild.blogspot.com Fibrefest Sept. 7 at 10:00am - 5:00pm Sept. 8 at 10:00am - 4:00pm Mississippi Valley Textile Museum and Almonte Arena info@mvtm.ca 613-256-3754 Mvtm.ca

September 8

Singer Songwriter Circle 1:00pm Mississippi Mills Musicworks 453 Ottawa St. kathryn@mississippimillsmusicworks.com 613-256-7464 Adventure In Your Ear LIVE! 7:00pm - 9:00pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com

September 11

Mississippi Mills at a Glance 7:00pm - 9:00pm Almonte Community Centre 182 Bridge St. 613-256-1077

September 13

Comedy Open Mic 7:00pm - 9:00pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com

September 14

Toy & Collectible Show & Sale 9:00am - 2:00pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St. fscantlebury@unitedwaylanarkcounty.ca Unitedwaylanarkcounty.ca

September 16

Quilters' Guild 7:00pm Almonte Civitan Hall 500 Almonte St. almontequiltersguild@gmail.com

September 17

Apollo 11: The Quest for the Moon 6:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St.

September 19

Ryan McMahon 7:00pm - 9:00pm Equator Coffee 451 Ottawa St. 613-256-9560

September 19 & 21

Curling Registration Sept. 19 at 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Poetry Open Mic 7:00pm - 9:00pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com Black Tie Bingo 7:00pm Orchard View 219 Paterson St. ovmreception@ovlc.com 613-963-5000 Orchardviewmississippi.ca The Rash Comedy Bash 8:00pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. Crowningmonkey.com

September 22

Meet the Author: Jill Heinerth 1:30pm Almonte Library 155 High St. 613-256-9090 millstreetbooks.com Trad Song Pub Session 2:00pm - 4:00pm The Barley Mow 79 Little Bridge Street dave@barleymow.com 613-256-5669 Barleymow.com

September 23

Almonte Hort: Dried Flowers 7:30pm Cornerstone Community Church 1728 Concession 11 cornerstone@cornerstone-almonte.ca 613-256-4995 cornerstone-almonte.com

September 26

Vernissage: Contemplative Photography Group of the Ctr for Creative Living 7:00pm - 9:00pm Fairview Manor 75 Spring St. 613-256-3113 almontegeneral.com/fvm FoSH: The Weather Station 7:30pm Almonte Old Town Hall 14 Bridge St. Thefestivalofsmallhalls.com

September 27

Breakfast with Soul 8:00am - 10:00am Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com Acoustic Open Mic 7:00pm - 9:00pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com Almonte Lectures: Finding Your Funny 7:30pm Almonte United Church 106 Elgin St. AlmonteLectures@gmail.com Almontelectures.net

September 28

C.R. Avery w/Elaine Marilyse & Dimorphic 7:00pm - 9:00pm Curious & Kind Heritage Mall 12B Mill St. curious.and.kind.almonte@ gmail.com

September 29

Vendemmia Open House 1:00pm - 4:00pm Orchard View 219 Paterson St. ovmreception@ovlc.com 613-963-5000 Orchardviewmississippi.ca FoSH: Craig Cardiff 3:00pm Tatlock Community Hall 696 7th Con Darling Thefestivalofsmallhalls.com

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

Thursdays

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

Fridays

Scottish Country Dancing 9:30am McMartin House 125 Gore St. E. 613-264-2767

September 5

Ottawa Senators Hometown Tour 4:00pm Canadian Tire Dufferin St. nhl.com/senators/community/ hometown-tour

September 5 - 8

Deathtrap Sept. 5 - 8 at 2:00pm Sept. 7 at 8:00pm Good Shepherd Hall, St. James Anglican Church 54 Beckwith St. E. 1-877-283-1283 Classictheatre.ca

September 6

New in Town 7:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E. 613-267-7469 Studiotheatreperth.com Ramblin' Valley Band 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com The Godfrey's 8:45pm 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

September 7

Parkinson SuperWalk Lanark North Leeds 9:30am Conlon Farm Recreational Complex 109 Smith Dr. alan.muir@parkinson.ca 1-800-565-3000 x3427 donate.parkinson.ca/lanarknorthleeds.ca Indigenous Culture Day 1:00pm - 4:00pm Perth Museum Matheson House 11 Gore St. E. 613-267-1947 Lanarkcountyneighbours.ca

September 10

Apollo 11: The Quest for the Moon 6:30pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St.

September 11 & 25

Meditation & Associated Processes 1:30pm - 3:00pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St. 613-225-4675

September 13

Loaded SixString 8:00pm 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 Matt Dickson 9:00pm

Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

September 14

Loaded SixString 8:30pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com Jimmy Tri-Tone Band 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

September 15

Terry Fox Run 8:45am Conlon Farm Recreational Complex 109 Smith Dr. Terryfox.org Meet the Artist: Hawa Kaba 2:00pm - 4:00pm StrĂŠvĂŠ Design 16 Gore St. E. strevedesign@gmail.com 613-267-0230 Strevedesign.com

September 17

Community Home Support Info Session 7:00pm - 8:30pm Old Perth Shoe Factory 1 Sherbrooke St. W. rebeccab@chslc.ca 613-267-6400x28

September 19

The Butterfly Fan Club Breast Cancer Support Group 7:00pm - 9:00pm Perth Family Health Centre 33 Lewis St.

September 19 - 22, 26 - 29

Ed's Garage Sept 19 - 21, 26 - 28 at 7:30pm Sept 22 & 29 at 2:00pm Studio Theatre 63 Gore St. E 613-267-7469 studiotheatreperth.com

September 20

Dave McGrath 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com Stephen Mark Fisher 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com The Brockolees 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

September 21

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

September 22

Choral Evensong 3:45pm St. James the Apostle Anglican Church 12 Harvey St. cnr Drummond stjamesperth@superaje.com 613-267-1163 Stjamesperth.ca

September 25

Meditation & Associated Processes 1:30pm - 3:00pm Perth Library 30 Herriott St. 613-225-4675 Woman at War 2:00pm & 7:00pm Full Circle Theatre 26 Craig St. filmnightperth@gmail.com filmnightinternational.blogspot.com

September 26

Perth Hist Soc: Perth's 1st Bldg 7:30pm Perth Legion 26 Beckwith St E.

rcl244@ymail.com 613-267-4400 Perthhs.org

September 27

Henry Norwood 8:00pm Fiddleheads Bar & Grill Code's Mill 53 Herriott St. 613-267-1304 Fiddleheadsbarandgrill.com Tom Watson 8:45pm O'Reilly's Pub 43 Gore St. E. 613-267-7994 Oreillyspubperth.com Ted Lalonde 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

September 27 - 29

Culture Days Sept 27 at 10:00am - 4:00pm Sept 28 - 29 at 10:00am 6:00pm Perth Museum Matheson House 11 Gore St. E. 613-267-1947

September 28

Grand Opening: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 10:00am - 1:00pm Perkins Bldg.

2 Wilson St. perthbjj@gmail.com Perthbjj.com The Bells of St. Paul's 10:00am Crystal Palace

63 Gore St. E. Stpaulsperth.ca Nolan Hubbard 9:00pm Golden Arrow 71 Foster St. 613-267-4500 Goldenarrowpub.com

SMITHS FALLS Mondays

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

Tuesdays

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

Thursdays

Mixed Darts 7:00pm RCAFA Hall 44 Abbott St. N 613-206-4227

September 7

Magical Station 9 3/4 2:00pm - 9:00pm Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario 90 William St. W. info@rmeo.org 613-283-5696

September 11

Recreation Open House 6:00pm - 8:00pm Smiths Falls Memorial Com-

r e b m e t SepEvents

munity Centre Hall 613-283-4124x6105 recreation@smithsfalls.ca Jill Barber 8:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

September 14

LAWS Garage Sale 8:00am - 1:00pm LAWS 253 Glenview Rd. Doors Open Smiths Falls 10:00am - 3:00pm Smithsfalls.ca

September 20

Autumn Bake Sale 10:00am - 2:00pm Settlers Ridge Centre Brockville Street Barn Dance & BBQ 5:00pm Lombardy Agricultural Barn 613-283-4730

September 21

Downtown Tea 2:00pm - 4:00pm Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario 90 William Street West 613-83-5696

September 22

Pig Roast 4:00pm Lawn Bowling Club 613-283-8119 61-283-5189

September 26

Woman at War 2:00pm & 7:00pm Station Theatre

53 Victoria Ave. filmnightperth@gmail.com Filmnightinternational.blogspot.com

September 27 - 29, Oct 3 - 6

Death by Design Sept 27 - 28, Oct 3 - 5 at 7:30pm Sept 29, Oct 6 at 2:00pm Station Theatre 53 Victoria Ave. 613-283-0300 Smithsfallstheatre.com

September 28

Energy Savings Workshop 10:00am Smiths Falls Legion 7 Main St. E. Jersey Nights 8:00pm Gallipeau Centre Theatre 361 Queen St 613-284-9916 dreamrock.ca Cyberzone Throwback Video Dance Party 8:30pm - 1:00am Civitan Club 12468 Hwy 15

WESTPORT & RIDEAU LAKES Wednesday

Open Mic w/Shawn McCullough 7:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Thursdays Jazz w/Spencer Evans Trio 8:00pm - 10:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEINN

Sundays

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

September 6

Henry Norwood & Shawn McCullough 8:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

September 7

David Allen James 5:30pm - 8:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

September 13

BOTR: Harrison Kennedy & Band 7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

September 14

Makers Rendezvous 8:30am - 5:00pm Soho's 43 Bedford St Terry Tufts 5:30pm - 8:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

September 20

Rob Moir 5:30pm - 8:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

September 21

Dave Balfour & Jamie Campbell 5:30pm - 8:30pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

September 27

Head over Heels w/The Blue Monday Band 7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

September 28

Mario Franco 7:00pm - 11:00pm The Cove Country Inn 2 Bedford St. Coveinn.com 1-888-COVEIN

FALL IS UPON US Stop at Andress’ and experience all that fall has to oer like apples, cider, fall colors, squashes, harvest etc...

September 2019

13

Chip Trucks around the region Why do we love buying food from chip trucks so much? Maybe it's the hand cut fries or the fresh curds on that yummy poutine, or maybe it is that old favourite

that you just can't find anywhere else.

Connoisseurs of hot freshcooked fries are part of Canada’s culinary identity. It's part of our culture.

If you are looking for a delicious home-made burger with a side of fresh hand cut fries then you don't need to look any further!

Try these locations to satis-

fy your cravings when you’re road tripping across Lanark County this summer, and be sure to let them know you found them on the chip wagon circuit!

Jac W rap

NOW OPEN!

Fries • Burgers • Poutine Hot Dogs • Chicken Burgers Wraps • Chicken Strips • Salads

613-812-0837

September 2019

14

Food & Drink

Let's Eat

Brian Turner

DiLuCa in Merrickville; where family and delicious meet I’m seldom surprised by regional diners and restaurants I visit as I do a little research before choosing one to review. But DiLuCa Italian Restaurant in Merrickville blew me and my companions away during a recent visit. The first surprise was the view. You can argue that there are few stores and food facilities in Merrickville that don’t have a great view of this picturesque small town, but DiLuCa’s is located directly across the Main Street from the lock station and their outdoor patio offers won-

derful views from any table.

The next big surprise was what came out of the kitchen. This family run restaurant (its name is derived from the first letters of 3 sisters) uses a series of old family recipes from their hometown of Civitaquana in the Abruzzo region of Italy. Our table of four tried their take on lasagna, penne e salsicce (with Italian sausage) and two had cheese ravioli. Of course while we were waiting (and it wasn’t a long delay) we tried their take on sangria (served with local seasonal berries)

Photo credit: Brian Turner.

and a pork-belly appetizer along with some very fresh warm bread with flavoured oil for dipping. Our pasta dishes were amazing with perfectly cooked noodles, flavourful sauce, and a perfect amount of cheese. Our ravioli was topped with goat cheese along with the cheese filling which added a unique and delightful taste.

The servings were generous and even my hearty appetite met its match with the penne. The menu is changed up every 2 or 3 weeks providing more than enough reason for a second or third visit. And they are more than happy to adapt their dishes to suit individual tastes. For example, I opted for a hotter version of the penne e salsicce and wasn’t disappointed. This also allows them to offer gluten-free and vegan versions. Their wine selection is somewhat limited but what they carry provides perfect pairings for their menu.

We ended our time at DiLuCa’s with some great desserts. A mile-high coconut-cream pie I sampled

from my wife’s plate did more justice to its name than anything I’ve ever tried before. And my custard filled with chopped fresh strawberries was just the right palate cleanser to end a perfect meal.

Their patio is surrounded by a tree-lined garden which includes some herbs for their kitchen and enough room for live music groups who make regular appearances on Sundays during the warmer weather seasons.

DiLuCa is located at 106 Main St West in Merrickville. You can check them out online at dilucamerrickville.com or call them at 613-269-3877.

There is one step up to both the main and patio entrances. They’re open for dinner only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and have lunch and dinner hours the rest of the week except Mondays when they’re closed (see their website for details). Dinner entrees range from $16-$23 (very reasonable). And like family, they’re not satisfied until you’re delighted and promising to come back soon.

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Beer, Wine & Spirits

Brian Preston

Terroir in Whiskey and Solera Premium Rum This month I thought it would be interesting to focus on recent developments in the world of Spirits...the ones in the glass. Let's begin with a relatively new concept I am hearing about, terroir in Whiskey. Does the taste of rye whiskey differ based on where the rye it's made from is grown?

Check out https://punchdrink.com/articles/howdo-you-define-terroir-inwhiskey/ from PUNCH July 14, 2016 for a full article on this topic. This experiment used rye grown in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Vermont, and Saskatchewan. They explored whether rye grain, like wine grapes of the world, has terroir. In other words: Does rye whiskey taste different depending on where the rye it’s made with is grown?

The participating distilleries attempted to control as many variables as possible to truly understand this potential aspect of whiskey terroir—from distilling and fermentation techniques to aging the spirits in 23-gallon barrels made by the same cooperage. One of the difficulties I have with this concept is the fact that distilleries do not usually have their own rye crops: whiskey grain tends to be

purchased as a commodity on the open market, which means that its terroir is, effectively, everywhere.

Nonetheless, let's see what happened with the project.

They analyzed the composition of the grain as well as that of the whiskey straight off the still, and tests showed differences in protein and starch content, mineral levels, and in the chemical make-up of the whiskies before they went into barrel. The author's assessment of a number of barrel samples indicated, "that there were clear differences between the Vermont and Canadian ryes. While both had seen less than a year in oak and tasted quite young, the Vermont rye was fruitier with caramel notes, while the Canadian rye was fuller and spicier, with aggressive petroleum aromas. Both, quite obviously, needed more time in barrel. Whether these differences can be attributed to ryes of different origins versus differences in the barrel and the proof … is impossible to know."

My son Matt in Edmonton said, "I would say the water used has the greatest influence on the spirits.

Unlike wine, only a small portion of the rye is in the finished spirit. The type of

rye may bring certain flavours but if the same rye genetics are used then I believe where it is grown will not matter much. The problem with their test is that the quality of the grain may be different in each of those areas from year to year. Drought, rain, heat, cold, drying, storage and harvest issues are all significant variables that are not accounted for." I couldn't have said it better, but then he is a chip off the old block!

Now let's look at the issue of solera rum. Rum enthusiasts are beginning to question the practice of “solera aging.” See story

by Matt Pietrek at https:// punchdrink.com/articles/ has-solera-become-dirtyword-aged-rum Well-known players like Ron Zacapa, Santa Teresa, Botran, Dictador and La Hechicera all proudly proclaim solera aging.

But what exactly does that mean? When it comes to solera aging of rums, nearly all producers are found in former Spanish colonies, such as Guatemala, Venezuela and Colombia—hence the influence of Spanish Sherry-aging techniques. For example, take five casks, each completely filled with wine and

stacked vertically. To bottle a small portion, you take out say one-quarter of the wine from the bottom cask, before refilling that cask with the same amount of wine from the cask immediately above. This refilling process repeats all the way to the topmost cask, which is refilled with new, unaged wine. Do this enough, and you’ll create a system where the top cask holds the youngest wine, while the bottom barrel holds the oldest. The sherry maker can calculate both an average and minimum age at extraction.

For solera rums, dif-

The Travelling Sommelier brianpreston@hotmail.com

ferent barrels are used as opposed to the same one in sherry making and the actual average age of their implied age statements on labels may or may not be accurate. Ed Hamilton, a rum expert, importer and author of two books on rum says, “Santa Teresa was the first to use solera on a label in the ’90s, and Zacapa soon followed.” So if rum producers who use the word “solera” on their labels and in their branding aren’t adhering to the traditional solera method, how exactly are they aging and blending? Guatemala’s Ron Zacapa is aged in a series

of casks previously used to store American whiskeys, delicate sherries and Pedro Ximénez wines, and unlike the sherry solera system, the barrels are changed every time a new mixture is realized, giving depth of flavor. The author stated that while Zacapa’s label doesn’t explicitly say “23 years", the average consumer would be forgiven for thinking every drop is aged at least that long. There are many great rums available at a fair price, including some from solera-touting producers, but the best advice is “drink what you like, but know what you’re drinking”.

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Celebrate Lanark County’s bounty at Harvest Festival

Photos submitted.

Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Want to get fresh with a local farmer? The sixth annual Lanark County Harvest Festival will give everyone a chance to do just that!

This outdoor event, slated for Sunday, Sept. 8 at Beckwith Park (1319, 9th Line, Beckwith), will celebrate the county’s bounty of the harvest featuring local producers, food seminars, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, local musicians, historical displays and more. This year, we feature our partnering Town of Carleton Place by showcasing its people, products and projects in celebration of its 200th anniversary.

“The Lanark County Harvest Festival is an opportunity for people to meet our local farmers and purchase local food and other locally made products. The county has a unique blend of producers, passions and food” notes Warden Richard Kidd, Beckwith Reeve.

The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is a collaboration of several local groups, including Lanark County Farmers’ Markets, the Lanark County Agricultural Advisory Working Group, the Township of Beckwith, and Lanark County.

In 2019, the collaboration among Beckwith Churches will continue to deliver the popular “Harvest Church

Supper” of traditional stew (not to mention pie of all kinds). Some of the participants are growing the ingredients, and others are sourcing local ingredients.

It is “stew good to miss.”

Tickets are $12 and will be sold in advance (online at Ticketsplease.ca) or at the door for the supper, taking place from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the main arena building following the Harvest Festival.

The program includes cooking demonstrations featuring local chef Joan Smith of Balderson who will create an impromptu dish cooking with local ingredients available from festival vendors. Cathy Reside of The Good Food

Tour will be presenting her insights on how visitors learn about our culture through our cuisine.

The renowned “Bowes Brothers” are returning as the musical entertainment; and children’s activities (weather permitting) such as a petting zoo and a giant air bounce can be expected. “The event provides a perfect opportunity for local producers to connect with visitors and residents,” adds Marie White, Lanark

County tourism manager.

“The benefits of local food are becoming ever more popular. This festival is a good time to celebrate by sharing food, stories and laughter.”

“Beckwith Township is pleased to be the host municipality for the Lanark County Harvest Festival,” says Warden Richard Kidd, Beckwith Reeve. “Our staff has been working very hard with partners to ensure the event is a huge success. It is

a tribute to our agricultural past and future.”

This annual event supports local businesses, farmers’ markets, and the development of new business networks for the county’s agricultural producers.

“We hope to continue to create employment, build on the customer base for our farmers and encourage lots of visitors to come to Lanark County,” states festival founder Bill Dobson, Montague Reeve.

Canadian soccer team Ottawa Women's United takes the gold Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca

At the recently held European Masters Games in Turin Italy, the women’s soccer team representing Canada, Ottawa Women’s United (OWU), took home the gold medal in the women’s 40+ category. This event, held every four years, markets itself as the Olympics for the over-30 athlete. This year the soccer achievement had a local connection: OWU’s forward, Kelly McNamara of Almonte.

McNamara’s been with the team for only 1 year, yet still managed a goal against the formidable Australian squad. In fact the Canadian team faced stiff competition in their entire division facing off against the Italians, as well as the Australians.

And they did all this during an unprecedented heat wave on extremely hard and unforgiving turf surfaces. Their gold medal match was decided in a shoot-out which they took 4 to 3.

The games ran from July 26th to August 4th and this was the second international games for the OWU, having previously competed in New Zealand. In Italy, the European Masters involved 30 sports: from basketball to football, from badminton to swimming, from golf to archery.

McNamara noted her team benefited from outstanding performances from a great goalie and she encourages more women to get involved in these great opportunities.

She and her team are already making plans to compete in Japan in 2021.

LEFT: Kelly McNamara Photos submitted.

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Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Let's "Light up the Labyrinth" together from 6:30-9:00 PM on Friday, September 13th, 2019. During this event, the warm glow of more than 500 candlelit luminaries will flicker along the path of Carleton Place's Community Labyrinth. This year, during the walk, local musician Kerron Lamb will be playing the spiral didgeridoo and guitar.

We will also be wrapping up our 200 Labyrinth Walks for CP 200 commemorative event this evening. Join us to celebrate our combined achievement!

To make this event more collaborative, organizers are asking participants to gather at 6:30 PM at the labyrinth to prepare and place luminaries for a 7:30 PM candlelit walk. Christine Hume, Chairperson for the Labyrinth Committee, explains: “As a very small committee we need many

hands to help us light up this spectacular display on the labyrinth.

Join us at 6:30 PM and be part of assembling and placing the luminaries, and help us to light the candles before the walk. The dismantling at the end of the walk is a big job and extra help is very welcome then as well!”

Our candlelit labyrinth walks have become a popular fall event, as individuals and families come to enjoy an evening labyrinth walk. "Children and those young at heart can be part of this festive labyrinth walk by carrying a lantern, wearing their glow-inthe dark-apparel, glow necklaces, glow sticks, and more. Be creative!" say Connie Prichett, a volunteer labyrinth keeper. Parents of young children should be cautioned that the luminaries are real flame and to please consider clothing and lantern choices carefully.

For those who wish to relax and watch the can-

dlelight, garden benches and a wheelchair-accessible contemplation ring encircle the labyrinth. If you would like to sit for a while and take in the candlelight glow, bring along a lawn chair too.

Thanks to support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Town of Carleton Place and individuals and businesses within our community, this permanent labyrinth exists for people to use at any time. The labyrinth is located at the corner of George and Baines Streets beside the Carleton Place & Beckwith Heritage Museum, 267 Edmund Street in Carleton Place, Ontario.

For more information or if you would like to help prepare the luminaries, please contact Christine Hume, cell 613 859 2136 Facebook: /CarletonPlaceCommunityLabyrinth Blog: carletonplacecommunitylabyrinth. blogspot.com.

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Homespun wit and wisdom are at the heart of Ed's Garage Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Anyone who's ever heard a Farmer's Daughter joke knows that the differences between the country and the city are fertile ground for humour. When rural rubs up against urban, friendly gibes seem to sprout like snap peas in springtime.

That's where the play Ed's Garage begins. But at its heart, this smart, good natured comedy about rural life is as thought provoking as it is laughter inducing.

Ed's Garage is part of the beloved Wingfield Farm series created by Canadian playwright Dan Needles. He introduces us to Ed Hargreaves, a retired farmer-turned-mechanic who has a gift for helping people solve their troubles using "garage therapy" -any problem can be talked out or tinkered away in the course of an oil change or a carburetor adjustment. But things change when a big city psychotherapist -- with real credentials -- opens her practice in the cottage next

door...

Don't miss Ed's Garage, premiering Thursday, September 19th at the Studio Theatre in Perth, directed

by Carolee Mason and starring Justin Lackey, Brent Maguire, Natasha Lackey, and Rob Glas as Ed. Ad-

vance tickets are $24 at Tickets Please (613-4856434; ticketsplease.ca) and at the Studio Theatre box office on show nights. Save $5 opening night. Visit studiotheatreperth.com for complete details.

Article by Paul Joyce

In rehearsal: Big city psychotherapist Cassandra (Natasha Lackey) lists her stolen property for Nick (Justin Lackey) in the comedy Ed's Garage, directed by Carolee Mason. The show opens at the Studio Theatre September 19th for eight shows.

Please visit studiotheatreperth.com for details. Photo credit: Len Modderman

September 2019 2019 September

19 19

culture

Sweet sounds of the ninth annual Merrickville’s Jazz Fest kick off Oct 17 Regional - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Tickets are now on sale for the ninth annual edition of Merrickville’s Jazz Fest (MJF) taking place in venues around Merrickville from Thursday, October 17 to Sunday, October 20, 2019. We are excited to showcase a terrific lineup of 16 excellent performances again this year. With a great selection of subgenres, featuring up and coming young artists, and outstanding seasoned performers from Toronto, Montreal and the Ottawa-Gatineau region, we’re sure you will find there is something for everyone.

Our Grand Opening will feature the Nicole Ratté Jazz Quintet performing a tribute to one of her favorite composers, Michel Legrand. Opening night celebrates our sponsors and admission is free for those who hold passes or tickets to individual concerts.

Friday opens with Eagles / Bova / Wittet; a trio of long- time colleagues and musical collaborators showcasing the compositions of Wayne Eagles.

Ottawa bassist Normand Glaude will present “Toots’ Suite”, a tribute to Toots Thielemans and the versatile jazz quintet Jazzmin-T, with their unique blend of traditional standards and

contemporary jazz-funk compositions will feature in the restaurant performances. Peter Hum’s Ordinary Heroes, his most recent recording, will be launched at MJF on Friday night.

The memorable melodies, relentless grooves and infectious energy of Zing opens the Saturday performances followed

by Juno nominee Petr Cancura blending roots music and jazz to create a new authentic sound.

With a voice described as ‘beautiful, rich, sultry and provocative’, Toronto native, Linda Carone and the powerful, modern and progressive sound of PreDestined will feature in the restaurant performances.

“As sophisticated as Cole Porter, as sly as Blossom Dearie.” JazzTimes describes Steven Taetz who is sure to delight on Saturday night performing music from his recent album ”Drink You In” as well as previewing new material from his upcoming album.

Sunday begins with an uplifting Jazz Worship featuring Peter Liu and the Pollcats: Resilience. This is a non-ticketed, ecumenical event. Sixteen yearold, Matthew O’Halloran’s Quartet takes us into Sunday afternoon followed by the Ferguson / Tremblay Quartet performing

this outstanding show, delivered with warmth, wit and pure Newfoundland charm!

This year Merrickville’s Jazz Fest will once again offer concurrent shows at the Baldachin Inn and The Goose & Gridiron restaurants. Two fantastic, albeit different style artists are booked for the three evenings; with a 90 minute performance, providing for more time to relax and enjoy the show and a meal.

When you purchase your tickets and passes this year you will be offered a choice of a restaurant event. With

original music from their new recording “Appleface”.

Exuding a rare blend of soulfulness and subtlety; singer, songwriter Simone Morris and the modern and electronic jazz of Montreal based LEAF will feature in the restaurants.

For our Closing Event we are proud to present Juno Nominee Heather Bambrick. As one of Canada’s top jazz vocalists, with performances described as “what happened when Carol Burnett meets Ella Fitzgerald at a Newfoundland kitchen party”, you’re sure to enjoy

unchies - Dope M r a B fé a -C Live Music

limited seating available at both venues we encourage you to make your selection early. MJF is made possible by generous sponsors, whom we gratefully acknowledge. The full list can be found on our website. Our platinum sponsors are: The Baldachin Inn, The Blue Pearl Foundation, Joseph’s Estate Winery, Inc and the Hinton Group. Our gold sponsors are: A Touch of Whimsy, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Justin Rice Insurance, Merrickville United Arts Centre and The Goose & Gridiron

Restaurant and Pub. We also acknowledge funding from the Village of Merrickville-Wolford.

Merrickville is an ideal village for a weekend getaway full of jazz. Visit historical venues, artist boutiques, sample gourmet cuisine, and enjoy comfortable accommodations, all within a few minutes’ walk of every concert location. For more information on program, the artists, venues and online ticket sales, please visit our website at merrickvillesjazzfest.com or find us on Facebook.

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