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OCTOBER 2023

Build a Mountain of Food serving up a seventeenth year Regional - Janelle Labelle editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Seventeen years ago, Hugh Colton spearheaded the first annual Build a Mountain of Food campaign. It began in Perth, and now involves 11 surrounding communities. For the past two years, BAM has been led by Chris Craig of RCL Automotive in Smiths Falls. “I grew up using the food bank years ago,” Craig said, “I had a single mom, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I want to give back to the communities. I don’t like to see kids go hungry. It’s really all about taking care of kids, for me.” Joined by Lake 88 Radio, Your TV, Hometown News and Hinton Auto Group, Craig is once again leading the drive to encourage our community to stock local food banks’ shelves to overflowing. On Monday night, Craig met with representatives from food banks and service clubs in Almonte, Carleton Place, Perth, Lanark, Smiths Falls, Westport, Elgin, Portland, Athens, Delta, and Merrickville, as well as Bob Perreault from Lake 88.1, Kathy Botham of Your TV, and Janelle Labelle of Hometown News. Craig welcomed every-

one to the campaign kickoff, held in the lobby of A&B Ford in Smiths Falls instead of next door at his business, RCL Automotive. “I thought we’d change it up this year and come to one of our sponsors,” he grinned, setting the group at ease. Before getting started with the planning, with food security top of mind, Craig paused to mention Smiths Falls farmer George McCaw, who offers free produce (currently carrots) at the end of his driveway on the Jasper Highway just outside of Smiths Falls. “In November he usually has rutabaga,” chimed in Kel McGreavy of the Merrickville Lions Club, who will be accepting donations as part of Build a Mountain of Food to go toward their Christmas Hamper program. Craig gave a brief history of the Build a Mountain of Food campaign. “I just want to remind everyone that what is collected in the community stays in that community,” he said. “If you’re giving at a food blitz in Perth, you’re giving to a hungry family in Perth, and the same goes for every community around.” Each community will have a special “Food Blitz” day, where volunteers will be set up in local grocery store parking lots, asking people to help fill vehicles with food to

Karen Lomas, Carleton Place Food Bank; Natalia Soteroff, Smiths Falls Food Bank, Wendy Quarrington, Perth Table Community Food Centre; David Bunt, Athens Food Bank; Leanne Schonauer, Lanark Food Bank; Norma Cummings, Portland Food Bank; Sonia Nichols, Lanark Food Bank; Wendy Lynn, Westport Food Bank; Sue Wilkes and Kel McGreavy, Merrickville Lions Club Hamper Fund; and Craig Leafloor, Lanark Food Bank. Photo credit: Kathy Botham.

support local food banks. Financial and food donations will be gratefully accepted. Bob Perreault is eager to continue upholding Lake 88’s tradition of supporting the BAM campaign. “It’s the highlight of our calendar to include Build a Mountain of Food,” he said. Lake 88 will feature interviews with food bank staff and telephone/live interviews from Food Blitz days as they take place around the region. Kathy Botham is planning an hour-long Build a

Mountain of Food show on Your TV, including interviews with those working on the BAM campaign. Many grocery stores will pre-package $10 donations in grocery bags so shoppers can see what they are giving. “Let’s remind people that they can give smaller amounts too,” said Wendy Quarrington, of the Perth Table Community Food Centre. Quarrington has printed stickers that she will place around local grocery stores, indicating that certain foods are “great

food bank items.” This way, if someone can’t donate a full $10 but wants to help, they can select something while they shop to add to the mountain of food. “Every bit helps,” she declared. Events and video coverage will be available on Facebook www.facebook.com/buildamountainoffood, Your TV, and Hometown News (print issues and website). Radio coverage will be on Lake 88.1 FM. Our mission is simple and clear: to help fill the

Carleton Place Bridge lighting display open to public requests

The new Central Bridge in Carleton Place shines a light on local events and issues. Photo credit: Submitted.

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Carleton Place - submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Did you know that you can now request a special lighting display on the Central Bridge to mark important dates? Carleton Place Town Council has given its approval to a Bridge Lighting Display Policy, which outlines the procedure for public requests to illumi-

nate the Central Bridge with specific colors. You can submit a request using a form on the Town's website at https://c arletonpl ace. ca/central-bridge-lighting-display.php. It's important to keep in mind that applications should be submitted at least four (4) weeks before your desired lighting date, and there are specific terms

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and conditions that apply. Whether it's a celebration, commemoration, or a meaningful event, you can now be a part of this iconic display.This new policy provides the public with a unique opportunity to to add a touch of color and vibrancy to the Central Bridge by making it a part of special occasions; submit your request today.

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shelves of our local community food banks to serve the people that depend on them. Your support means so much. With you, we can. Food Blitz Dates and Locations: SATURDAY NOV. 4 Almonte: 9am-4pm at Jonsson’s YIG Carleton Place: 9am-4pm at Mitchell’s YIG, FreshCo, and Giant Tiger SATURDAY NOV. 18 Perth: 9am-4pm at Metro Perth, Barnabe’s YIG, Foodsmiths, and Giant Tiger Lanark: 9am-12pm at Lanark Civitan Hall SATURDAY NOV 25 Smiths Falls: 9am-4pm at Andress’ YIG, Food Basics, The Garden Market, and Giant Tiger SATURDAY DEC 2 Elgin: 9am-12pm at Gordanier Freshmart Westport: 1pm-4pm at Kudrinko’s SATURDAY DEC 9 Portland: 9am-12pm at Portland LCBO and RBC Merrickville: 1pm-4pm at the Merrickville Food Market SATURDAY DEC 16 Athens: 9am-12pm at Athens Fresh Market Delta: 1pm-4pm at the Delta Country Market www.Hometownnews.ca

October 2023

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The Smiths Falls Record News - 1936

Mayor Pankow honours former Councillor Joseph Gallipeau

Smiths Falls - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca The town mourns the loss of former Councillor, community builder, and businessperson Joseph Gallipeau. I had the pleasure of serving on Council with Joe from 2014-18. It was a very pivotal time for our town and Joe’s business savvy and wisdom enabled him to make many positive contributions to the future of our community. Joe was much more than a Council colleague. He was a mentor and leader. I was honoured to have the opportunity to serve our community with Joe, a man I have admired and respected since I was a young child. Our families were close and I have so many fond memories of time spent with the Gallipeau family. From family celebrations to camping and fishing at their property on the Rideau, Joe, Diane, Todd and Tracy were a constant part of our lives. I admired Joe for his hard work and success. I was proud to know the man that built our family home and so many others. His charisma and sense of humour would fill a room and he carried a confidence that made me believe he could do almost anything. His vision, hard work, courage and fortitude led to his success. He built dozens, if not hundreds of houses over the past 50+ years.

Photo credit: Submitted.

A legacy of homes that so many of our citizens continue to enjoy, and will enjoy for generations to come. Of course, he is best known for purchasing the Rideau Regional Centre after it closed. As The Gallipeau Centre, he created over fifty apartments and accommodated dozens of businesses since. I can say today that, without a doubt, Joe saved the Rideau Regional Centre from what ultimately would have been decay and eventual demolition. Joe was also a caring and thoughtful man. He quietly supported so many causes in our town purely out of his own desire to give back to a community that he had built his suc-

cessful businesses in. We are all born into a world full of possibilities. Joe took this to heart and created a legacy of success that will long be remembered in our community. Our hearts and sympathies are with Diane, Tracy and Kevin, Todd and Cheryl and the entire Gallipeau and Nolan families as they mourn the loss of their patriarch. In honour of former Councillor Gallipeau, flags at town hall have been lowered to half mast. Rest in peace Joe. I hope heaven is full of the rivers, forests and wilderness you have always enjoyed. ~ Shawn Pankow, Mayor of Smiths Falls. Facebook

Cherished memories for young boy thanks to Chief Chesebrough Smiths Falls - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca

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The Smiths Falls "Record News" building, as it appeared in 1936. Photo submitted by Arlene StaffordWilson. Photo credit: Smiths Falls Public Library (clipping comes the collection of L. Ringer, 1936 scrapbook by Janet Lomax)

I had the pleasure of spending some time with my 7-year-old great grandson, Luke, in early July. We started out the day with our usual lunch at McDonalds followed by a visit to our favourite toy shop, Toy Heaven, where there is always a little treasure to be found and taken home. On this day, as we headed home, we passed the Smiths Falls Fire Station. My grandson was immediately captivated, as he always is, by the sight of the fire trucks. The trucks were proudly on display as the big doors were open, so we made a quick turn in to get a closer look. We got out and took a little walk about when we were fortunate enough to chance upon the Fire Chief himself, Rick Chesebrough! He was so appreciative of my grandson’s keen interest in all things fire department that he proceeded to let him see the fire trucks up close, as well as take us on a tour

of the station. Luke was even lucky enough to come away with a little “swag”! How lucky are we to have met Chief Chesebrough who so graciously took time to not only entertain

the wide-eyed fascination of a 7-year-old boy, but to create a cherished memory for both him and his Great Grandpa. Article by Claude Matte

Luke and Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough. Photo credit: Submitted.

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community Word artist believes you have the write stuff Smiths Falls - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca People don’t write. I asked. Many stopped, shook their heads, walked on. I made it enticing — easel with large newsprint writing pad, two white boards (one larger than the other), Dr. Seuss’ book “Sam-I-Am” to read to kids (rhyming couplets), pencils, pads, Sharpies (a rainbow of colours)…but still, few stopped to write. I wrote a limerick; no one wrote another… I wrote a haiku…(five syllables in first and third lines, seven syllables in middle line.) No one wrote another. Sam-I-Am was full of rhyming couplets: “Do you

like green eggs and ham? I do not like them Sam-I-Am.” No one wrote. I also brought plasticine to mold the first letter of names; eventually there were two “Ss”, two “Ms”, an “N” and a dog. It became my challenge — to get people to stop and write. It was the mid-August weekend of The Arts Crawl in Smiths Falls. Someone asked if I’d like to participate; I said sure — I’ll talk about writing. I’ve been writing a long time, and, it seems to me, that people are not writing much anymore. Cursive has not been taught in school (although I think it’s being re-introduced), kids print and most use computers or phones to

communicate… but who hand writes? I’m not a luddite… and until I was 19 I couldn’t type, I didn’t need to. Today, I sit down and work away at my computer daily. But studying journalism back in 1965 you had to type; so I learned. And I had to type words and the words had to make sense, so that’s where writing came in. On Saturday, I wrote at the top of the hanging pad — “Write a poem, a story, just your name.” People walked on by. When I called out and asked them to write something, the most frequent response was “Nope. Don’t want to…” Around noon, however, more stoppers. A young

Ukrainian couple stopped; he wrote, she translated. Some stopped to talk, others to read the scantily-covered pad. One old fella, Walt, stopped and added his name; he was 80. His wife Barb added hers. There was Jen (left-handed), Tim, Evelyn, Georgia, Mike and Danielle, Caroline and Lola… One young fellow drew an old-fashioned lantern adding words reflecting his life. Three children stopped and printed their names — Shakeel chose red, Samuel turquoise blue and Daisy a pink Sharpie. As four o’clock crept up, I had three pages filled — poems, names, pictures. The white boards were ‘cartooned’ with witty, grinning faces and finally, a young

Sally Smith at the Smiths Falls Arts Crawl August 19. Photo credit: Kathy Botham

woman drew a sitting dog, Rudy, in pencil. On reflection, it’s all in the coaxing. Draw people in, catch their interest, suggest a topic. Be a ringmaster…you

won’t see me out there with long black boots, a top hat and a megaphone, but I’ll cheer you on if I hear you’re writing. Why not start with a letter to the paper…

out Hometown News, adds her thoughts. “Sure, they keep us informed with the latest events, news, and happenings in our own backyard but they also foster a stronger connection. “They’re invaluable — they give us affordable and effective advertising platforms that help businesses connect with members of the local community.

“The benefits are clear,” she adds. “Strong local business communities create jobs, keep tax dollars local and strengthen the local infrastructure. “It's the small things that make a big difference!” Interested in small newspapers? Go to https:// ottawastart.com/a-list-ofcommunity-news-outletsin-ottawa/ for a list of 30.

opinion: Small papers make a big difference

By Sally Smith

We haven’t left. We’re still here. Others have gone…but Hometown News is still on the streets. For a week or two we thought there wouldn’t be any papers in Smiths Falls. Metroland closed down and there was some talk of Hometown closing, too. Happily that didn’t happen… here we still are, thank goodness! People often told me Hometown was better than the ‘other’ paper…but, when talking to a Hometown reporter, what else can you say? We weren’t better, just

different. They came out weekly, we come out monthly. They had all the deaths; we didn’t. Their paper came with weekly flyers, delivered to front doorsteps; ours is available at stores — Andress’ and The Garden Market, for two. It’s not as though we’re gleefully rubbing our hands that the competition is gone, but as Trish Krotki, publisher of Hometown, says: “With the recent departure of [The Record News], we had no choice but to step up. ”The top down model of community news where

large news organizations produce [small community papers] doesn’t seem to be sustainable anymore. The heart of community comes from within, from the people who live here, work here and are invested in our community. “We’ll keep going as long as there’s support from local government, advertisers, and readership.” The readership, she adds, is strong. (Did you know we’ve been here 10 years?) And there are still lots of community newspapers around. Take, for instance, John Fenik, former mayor of Perth and now newspaper

mogul in Westport; he recently bought The Review Mirror. The Kitchissippi Times, an Ottawa community newspaper, was founded by Ottawa’s present mayor Mark Sutcliffe. (Mayors and newspapers are attracted to one another! Limelight, I suspect…) One reader, Terry Watkiss, says about small local papers “…they make the community a community.” Another, Kim Ducharme, says we still need them for seniors “who may not be too tech savvy. It keeps them connected, otherwise they become isolated.” Tara McNeil, who lays

For Your Information with Kathy Botham

October 2023

lifestyle Perth Museum ghosts Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Perth, Ontario, is home to a number of beautiful old limestone buildings, dating back over 200 years. It’s not surprising that during this long history there have been many reports from residents, visitors, and employees of paranormal activity in the museum. Some claimed they heard unusual sounds, saw unexplained shadows, strange voices, thumping noises, or felt sudden chills or gusts of air at this old Perth landmark. Many of the stately old buildings in Perth date back into the early 1800s. Some of these historic buildings have changed hands many times over the years, like the Perth Museum. It was first built as a home for a distinguished citizen, Senator Roderick Matheson. Roderick Matheson’s home was one of the largest and finest in Perth. Being a Senator, he often held lavish parties in the beautiful gardens to the side and rear of his opulent home. The magnificent garden was lush and green, with apple and plum trees, gooseberries and currants, peonies, bachelor buttons, and row upon row of breathtaking, richly-scented rose-bushes. The garden made an impressive backdrop, where he entertained the area politicians, the wealthy, and prominent business owners of that era. His seven daughters – Mary, Rose, Flora, Isabella, Joan, Anna, and Eliza – each one strikingly beautiful in her own way, busied themselves in the garden at

the Senator’s parties, greeting guests, and offering them personal tours of the impressive grounds. Some locals say that the daughters were so attached to these gardens, and this impressive limestone home, that their spirits lingered, long after they departed this earth, and the girls may still be seen at dusk, tending the roses, strolling in the moonlight… Some may not realize that the Matheson family occupied the impressive stone manor as their family home for almost a century. When the last family member, Eliza Matheson died in the house in 1929, the building was sold, and became the elegant Birkacre Tea Room from 1930-38, operated by William and Jessie Kinloch. Soups, sandwiches and afternoon tea were their specialties, served in the beautiful garden, during the fine- weather months. From 1938-46 the building was called The Vanity Fair, a posh restaurant owned by Clifford and Alice Carr. It was said that during the late 1930s and early 1940s members of the spirit world became particularly active in both the main building, as well as the gardens, as the owners played hosts to several prominent clairvoyants, at the Vanity Fair. Psychic Medium Madame Cornel was a regular guest during 1938. Madame Cornel was said to be a gifted medium, and people from the area flocked to the Vanity Fair to hear her psychic predictions. In 1939, the Vanity Fair played host to another wellknown Clairvoyant from Ireland – Madame Kildare.

Perth Museum, 11 Gore St. E., Perth, Ontario. Photo credit: arlenestaffordwilson.wordpress.com/2023/10/06/perth-museum-ghosts/

It has been said that when Diana Kildare sat at the table and laid out her 40-year old tarot cards that you could hear a pin drop in the room. There were many mysterious noises and lights seen both in the home, and in the garden, thought to be spirits brought back by the visiting psychics and mediums. The Matheson family, particularly the beautiful daughters, didn’t seem to want to leave their home… Of the seven daughters in the family, only one married; and the other six girls remained at home, lavishing much time and energy tending the lush garden at the back of the property. Although some paranormal researchers say that violence or sorrow may cause a spirit to feel bound to the world until justice is rendered, this is not always the case. Some say it can be the strong attach-

New emergency department chief finds right fit at CPDMH

Dr. Rob Suttie. Photo credit: Submitted.

Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Dr. Rob Suttie has worked in both large and small hospitals and says Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) is the right fit for him. As Chief of Emergency, he says it’s all about the team. “My experiences have made me appreciate work-

ing in smaller hospitals and I really like it,” he explains. “In Carleton Place, it is often one doctor and two nurses on staff at any given time, so who you work with is important. The nurses are amazing. We have a great team here, from the nurses to the lab and x ray staff, to our family physicians.” Dr. Suttie takes the helm as Chief of Emergency as con-

struction on the new Emergency Department is underway. “It’s an exciting time in Carleton Place,” he says. “The new department will offer more treatment rooms, enhanced infection control standards and an improved experience for both walk-in patients and those arriving by ambulance.” A love of solving puzzles fostered Dr. Suttie’s love of emergency medicine and he says he loves the diagnostic process to help his patients. He earned his undergraduate degree in health sciences at the University of Ottawa (U of O) and his medical degree at the University of Dublin. He completed five years of specialty training in emergency medicine at U of O. When not working, Dr. Suttie says family comes first. He has two young sons that keep him on his toes after busy shifts.

ment to a particular location, and that spirits may return to a place where they spent their happiest times. It’s been said that these feelings of contentment, of the person never wanting to leave, can seep into a place, either in the

walls of a building, or the soil of the ground itself, and leave a certain ghostly energy or impression. Researchers claim that ghosts tend to stay in places that they considered to be their own during their former lives, and areas that were

once very closely linked to themselves as a living human being. Article by Arlene Stafford [https://arlenestaffordwilson. wordpress.com/2023/10/06/ perth-museum-ghosts/] [www.staffordwilson.com]

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October 2023

Food & Drink

Beer, Wine and Spirits Side Launch Brewing Co.

Brian Preston | The Travelling Sommelier | brianpreston@hotmail.com I’m just back from a week’s vacation in Collingwood on Georgian Bay, where I went to about 4 different local craft breweries and wineries, tasting my way through their portfolios. One of the best breweries visited was Side Launch Brewing Co. (sidelaunchbrewing.com; 705-293-5511) named after Collingwood’s historic ship building industry where ‘lakers’ and military vessels were built and launched by slipping them sideways into the water from their construction dry dock parallel to the water’s edge. This is unlike the method we all know where the dry docks are perpendicular to the water and ships are launched stern first, like the pictures you have no doubt seen of the ‘Titanic’ launching at Harland and Wolf shipyards in Belfast, Ireland. We had just returned from Ireland and Scotland a couple of weeks earlier, but more about

the visits and tastings from there in future articles. I arrived at a very large modern (glass and beam) building in Collingwood where they had a large patio and BBQ set up. Inside was a long tasting bar and the sheer number of 2 storey stainless steel tanks behind the bar reminded me of a nuclear submarine missile bay! There were many brews on tap and new versions are being produced all the time. That’s one thing about any brew master. They are creative and always experimenting until they hit another brew for public consumption. If I could use one phrase to describe the beers here it would be “balance in harmony.” Cole served us and was quite knowledgeable about the beers and entertaining us with great conversation while telling us about the place, the brew master’s goals and answering all my questions for this article.

My wife was with me so we ordered two flights of different beers, maximizing the opportunity to share tasting notes with you. Pineapple Sour IPA 5.8%abv: pale yellow, light citrus aroma with notes of bread, medium mouth body feel with lighter sour acidity you expect and with balanced pineapple taste coming through; pleasant and refreshing citrus and pineapple on the finish. Passionate Sour 4.3%abv: passion fruit with toasted coconut, yellow colour with totally balanced flavours of passion fruit and coconut; a great beer! Hibiscus Sour 4.2%abv: lovely salmon pink colour; harmonious hibiscus tea nose with raspberry puree; very well done; Mountain Lager 4.7%abv: a Munich style Helles; golden colour with lovely light spritz in a drier lager style; Wheat Beer 5.3%abv: their flagship beer; an award win-

By Brian Turner

Yukihana Sushi

With sushi, quality matters and Yukihana delivers!

Photo credit: Brian Turner

Ever since Yukihana Sushi was opened on Russell Street in Smiths Falls last month by the Chung family, the crowds and rave reviews haven’t stopped. My wife and I stopped in recently and like all those before us, we weren’t disappointed. While I might not know much if anything about this Japanese cuisine (it was actually first served in China sometime around the 4th or 5th century BC), it does seem that when you’re serving sushi, there’s no way to hide or mask lesser quality ingredients or lack of preparation skills with too many overpowering spices or coatings. As a good portion of the plates a sushi chef creates involve raw ingredients, you’ve got to start with the very best and treat every piece as if it were a culinary masterpiece. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of kitchen mastery in the Chung

family, nor a lack of absolutely first-rate fish and seafood. Father Ryan, son John, and Ryan’s wife, Julie Jang make up the crack team that has decided to make Smiths Falls their home. We tried one of the Sashimi platters to test out the flavours and textures of each type of fish and seafood offered on their own. Each piece was perfectly cut without any stray bones or fat or veining. Their appearance and presentation matched their taste; heavenly adventures for the pallet. If you’re a fan of sushi rolls, no worries, Yukihana has over 30 varieties, even including some non-meat options. John told me they tried making some in advance for use throughout the day, but they seemed to fly out in take-out packages or on dine-in plates as soon as they were ready. As a result, just about all of the

choices on their menu are made to order. Thanks to Ryan’s knife skills, there’s very little wait-time between ordering and eating. This is Ryan’s second restaurant, having owned one in Los Angeles before moving throughout the US and landing in Canada. Ryan, who is Korean, is also well versed in Korean and Chinese cuisine, but decided on sushi, because there wasn’t a dedicated restaurant serving this extremely popular menu in the area and Canadians seem to be in love with the dishes. Their menu is large and includes combo and party plates (think of the praises you’ll get for bringing one of these to an office or home gathering), along with a long list of rolls, including dragon rolls (where the outer coating is rice). They also have soups and salads and Tataki (where the meat is delicately seared), and even sushi pizza in a variety of flavours. Yukihama Sushi is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm and 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm. They’re located at 6 Russell Street East in Smiths Falls with an accessible entry. You can reach them to place a takeout order at 613-283-0699. They also offer a good number of tables for dine-in service. This is an experience not to be missed.

Photo credit: Brian Preston

ning authentic Bavarian style unfiltered wheat beer with notes of banana, spicy clove, and citrus. Using traditional special yeast, this gold and hazy beer is highly carbonated and has excellent head retention, and I picked up fruity blueberry notes; Dark Lager 5.3%abv: mahogany colour, light malt (chocolate notes), well balanced with coffee bean taste on a light to medium finish; Any Day Hazy IPA 4%abv: light hazy yellow with a citrus nose and the same replay on the finish; Hazy IPA 6.4%abv: hazy golden, a modern style IPA with malt, oats, wheat, hops, and caramel tones, along with tropical notes of papaya and mango; medium-bodied and fruity with a refreshingly crisp finish; Peach Light La-

ger 4%abv; clear yellow colour with peach on the nose and taste; an exceptionally low in carbs and calories premium lager with an infusion of vibrant natural peach flavours making this (as they say) “a guilt free summer crusher!” A uniquely lovely brew in this hot weather we have been enjoying. I noticed some oak barrels behind the counter among the steel tanks and was informed that this is the new experiment by the brew master – cherries with chocolate in oak barrels to see what happens! Don’t laugh. There are several commercial breweries doing this now, one of them being O’Fallon Cherry Chocolate Dark Wheat, a dark wheat beer that tastes like

a chocolate covered cherry using four kinds of grain along with natural cherry and chocolate flavors for a smooth, delicious brew, perfect sipping beer for the cooler winter months. It is from St Louis, Missouri. Next issue, I will tell you about my experience at Thornbury Craft Co., the other top, multi-award winning brewery, where they make a range of high quality ciders and beers. They started in the late 1800s as a fruit growing operation and by 2016 they became part of the Colio Winery Family of Lake Erie North Shore, the southernmost and warmest wine appellation region of Ontario, and the first winery to be licensed in Southwestern Ontario.

October 2023

culture Local enthusiast recreates Hershey's Chocolate Factory Smiths Falls - Staff writer editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Smiths Falls, Ontario - A remarkable journey of passion and dedication has led one individual to celebrate the history of the Hershey's Chocolate Factory and the enduring legacy it left in Smiths Falls. Harrison Barconnor, a native of the Ottawa-Gatineau region, who has brought the town's sweet memories back to life in a stunning 1:87 scale model. Barconnor was born in Ottawa but spent much of his childhood in Gatineau, where his grandparents lived beside the historic HCW steam railway. Every Saturday morning, young Barconnor and his parents would visit his grandparents. They would chat and drink coffee, and then they would take him down to the tracks to witness the trains passing by. Little did he know that these early experiences would ignite a lifelong passion for trains, mechanical engineering, and the allure of historical artifacts. The turning point came in the summer of 2005 when, at four years old, Barconnor embarked on a family road trip to Smiths Falls. Their destination: the renowned

Hershey's chocolate factory. Walking through its fragrant halls, young Barconnor was captivated by the colossal rooms where massive propellers stirred vast vats of chocolate. The pulleys and conveyor belts that transported chocolate bars left an indelible mark on his young mind. The adventure continued as they descended a staircase into a massive gift shop, a paradise for chocolate lovers. Among the countless options, Harrison chose a Reese's-themed pencil, a memento that would forever link him to his unforgettable visit. The Hershey's factory closed its doors, but the memories remained vivid, and the sweet aromas etched deep within Barconnor's imagination. Years later, Barconnor returned to Smiths Falls with his father, this time to witness the annual Canadian Pacific holiday train, a tradition that evolved into a cherished annual event. On one such excursion, a chance detour brought them past Smiths Falls' iconic water tower, and Barconner couldn't believe his eyes. The massive water tower still bore the giant Hershey bar logo, declaring "Smiths Falls The Chocolate

Scale model of the former Hershey factory in Smiths Falls, built by Harrison Barconnor. Photo credit: Harrison Barconnor

Capital of Ontario," a testament to the lasting impact of the factory on the town. Intrigued by the factory's enduring legacy and spurred on by a lack of information online, Barconner took it upon himself to uncover the factory's history. The search led to the discovery of numerous photos, news articles, and blog posts, each offering a piece of the factory's story. Barconnor painstakingly collected and

preserved this trove of historical materials. The culmination of his efforts occurred in 2019 when Barconnor decided to merge his love for trains and model railroading with his fascination for the Hershey's factory. This ambitious project involved creating a 1:87 scale model of the factory, a labor of love that spanned four years. Every dimension was meticulously measured, scaled

down, and meticulously assembled. The culmination of his efforts took place on June 15th of this year, the 60th anniversary of the real factory's opening in 1963. Barconnor's dedication to preserving the history of the Hershey's Chocolate Factory and Smiths Falls' sweet legacy is a testament to the power of passion and the enduring importance of our local history. His remarkable journey

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serves as a source of inspiration for the entire community, highlighting the beauty of preserving the past and the joy of recreating it in miniature. To read more about Barconner’s research on the historical timeline of the Hershey factory, “The former Hershey Factory in Smiths Falls” visit https://www.hometownnews.ca/hershey-factory-timeline/

October 2023

Elvis has not left the building

Elvis sings in the basement of Trinity United Church. Photo credit: Sally Smith.

Regional - Sally Smith editorial@pdgmedia.ca No one really noticed him at first; he was just a dark figure at the bottom of the stairs in the basement, always there, always silent. We rushed past him to get our shoes on before boxing class; we rushed by him on the way out, too. Then one day someone said “Hey… know who that is?” We all stopped. “Who?” we asked. “That guy standing at the bottom of the stairs…” “Who…?” we asked again. “It’s Elvis.” And just like that he was alive again…the hips, the voice, the hair. I was 10 when he first appeared on The Ed Sullivan show; my father (remembering what he’d heard on the radio, and not knowing what we’d see), was a bit hesitant to let us watch. Television was new, too, so it was (all in all) a trepidatious situation. Reverend Christopher Ryan of Trinity United Church in Smiths Falls remembers when he first saw the figure of Elvis, too. It was in the back room of Merrickville United Church when he was appointed as the pastoral charge supervisor there. This was when they were considering the possibility

of disbanding — which they eventually did. “I enquired about Elvis right away because…well… Elvis just isn’t an iconic figure, Elvis is an iconic figure from our age.” He says (and this would be a good sermon) “that age was a hopeful time, it was a time of change, it was a time of dreams, it was a time of things becoming new. “And all that was in the context of a broader anxiety, the Cold War. “The age which we live in now remains an age of anxiety, an age where we’re considering very serious change — like environmental concerns, social justice. “And these are the same concerns as our youth. “It was the hopefulness, the energy, the social participation, the movement of the age in which we were engaged as youth that is still relevant today. “What I thought was… wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an icon from our youth to remind us that many of the advances, improvements and hopes we had in that age have been realized, some are still being realized, some have been passed to a younger generation and will form their concerns, their hopes, their dreams…” “Elvis is much more than about music! He represents an age — our age, and that

age endures.” This is so true, the Reverend adds, thinking about all the Elvis fans in his congregation. Elvis didn’t travel unaided to Trinity United; the organist, Wendy Stokes-Earl is a fan and made sure he found his way there… “where he was well received,” Reverend Ryan adds. Nor did he always lurk in the basement. “He gets around,” the Reverend laughs. “We place him in the foyer to welcome folk, and occasionally when the theme of a service is appropriate we dress him to reflect the theme…and maybe put him in the sanctuary. For instance, on Farming Sunday, Elvis was dressed in appropriate garb (admitting it’s hard to put a shirt on him because he’s molded plastic, solid, over 6’ tall, and his arms don’t move), but “he had a plaid shirt draped over his shoulders, a straw hat and an old dirty hanky because that was our introit that Sunday — straw hats and old dirty hankies.” He laughs. “We were reminded by one of our members that Elvis was likely of a disposition that he probably wouldn’t wear a hat in church — so Elvis held his hat that Sunday.” Rumour has it that the figure of Elvis spent time at the RCA Plant in Smiths Falls at one time. Even if he didn’t, some of his records were tested there. Sandra Rattray tells this story about her mother: “She worked in one of the sound booths, testing records…I remember when she tested Elvis’ album Moody Blue and the first covers were, I believe, signed by him. She was so excited.” https://lindaseccaspina. wordpress.com/2016/03/14/ the-rca-plant-smithsfalls-the-day-the-recordsstopped-spinning/ So, even though Reverend Ryan is soon retiring, Elvis will be sticking around. “He belongs to the congregation. It belongs to him… ”He seems happy to be with us. I hope he stays.”

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October 2023

business SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS: Welcome to

ontrac Employment Resource Services!

ADVERTORIAL - ontrac editorial@pdgmedia.ca ontrac Employment Resource Services has been providing free professional in-person, local employment services to the community of Smiths Falls since 2002. Our team of dedicated staff provides services to job seekers, supporting individuals to achieve their employment and training goals and to employers, supporting businesses with their hiring and training needs. How can we help? • Are you looking for help finding and keeping a job? • Have you been laid off? Are you thinking about

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