TAVISTOCK SCHOOL GRADUATION 2016
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U21 JUNIOR TEAM READY TO PLAY
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Serving Tavistock and area since 1895 VOLUME 120 • NUMBER 39
MAIN STREET A QUICK LOOK AT OUR TOWN!
THIS ‘N’ THAT
Canada Day was cool with cloudy skies but the remainder of the weekend was beautiful the lawns are brown and dry - what a difference from last year . . . this is our last edition before summer holidays - the Gazette will be closed Friday, July 8th - Sunday, July 24th inclusive - no paper July 13th or 20th . . . Hickson Lions Daze is set for July 15 and 16th (see ad page 6) . . . the U21 Men's Fastpitch Canadian Championship is approaching quickly this huge event held here in Tavistock is August 2- 7 - Volunteers still needed! . . . don't forget to pick up your tickets for the RCMP Musical Ride set for August 15th.
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
Lots of birthdays and anniversaries to take us through the holidays - Ava Mohr is 10 years old today July 6th; Lauren Holdsworth, 19; anniversaries for Jeff and Chris Schultz, 25th; Paul and Marilynn Van den Borre, 20th; Justin and Jennifer Jantzi, 3rd … on July 7, Beatrice Yungblut is 100, Rachel Pearson is 19 … Samantha Hovius is 3 July 8th; Carmen Yausie, 9; Madux Snyder, 11; David Pullen, 17; anniversaries for Trevor and Katie Bender, 10th; Mark and Carolynn Rutherford, 21st; Robert and Marie Brodrecht, their 50th … on July 9th anniversaries for Tyler and Jessica Yantzi, 11th; Chris and Alex McKay, 5th … Bella Paese is 6 July 10th; anniversaries for Doug and Karen Shirray, 51st; Brent and Shauna Lange, 6th … on July 11th Bo Schurink is 11; Aleigha Bontaine, 11; Zachary Dredge, 14; Reid and Emily Bell mark their 7th wedding anniversary … Dylan Smith is 16 July 12th; Hailey Mohr is 16; anniversaries for Bryn and Terry Gladding; Jack and Jane Danen, 19th; Robert and Pam Seyler, (continued on page 6)
TAVISTOCK, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016
1.19¢+.06 HST = $1.25
FIDDLE & STEPDANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Canada Day weekend in the park
The 33rd Annual Southwestern Ontario Fiddle & Stepdance Championship was another year of three's. Greg Henry of Corunna won the Open Fiddle category for the third year in a row; Diana and Andrew Dawydchak of Etobicoke won the Duet Fiddle class for their third year; and All Reel Drive, a trio from the Sebringville area won their third Open Group Stepdance trophy. "Our competitor numbers were approximately the same as last year, but we had a lot of new competitors this year that had never competed in contests before and that is encouraging," said Marianne Huitema, competition secretary. Top fiddler Greg Henry took home the Graham Townsend Trophy and $1,000 as well as the new Don Carswell Memorial Waltz Award and $200 as the Open Fiddler with the highest points awarded for his waltz. Greg, who works at a refinery in Sarnia, has been taking home awards from the Tavistock event for the past 10 years. He was second in 2012, third in 2007, 2008 and 2009, and fifth in 2013 and 2006. Greg has also been successful in
the Duet Fiddle category taking home first place with Tom Fitzgerald in 2012 and 2013; and with Chuck Joyce in 2005 and 2006. In the group of seasoned fiddlers making it to the Open final this year were Celine Murray of Dorchester in second place earning $800 and the Ed Gyurki Trophy, Paul Lemelin of Val Therese in third with the Bickle Farms Trophy and $600, Emily Yarascavitch of Oshawa in fourth winning $400, and Andrew Dawydchak of Etobicoke in fifth taking home $200. Andrew Dawydchak and his sister, Diana, also won the Duet Fiddle class for the third year in a row. They won the Bob and Betty Tanner Trophy and $300. Emma and Will March of Pembroke were second winning the Cook Family Trophy and $200, Samuel and Jackson Corry of Red Deer, Alberta were third winning $150, and fourth place went to Fiona McCairley and Cassandra Swan of Kitchener receiving $100. On the stepdancing side of the competition, Becky Reid of Arnprior won top marks over the full slate of competitors in the Open category. It was quite a feat
BILL GLADDING / TAVISTOCK GAZETTE
Greg Henry won the Open Fiddle category for the third straight year while Becky Reid won her first Open Stepdance championship here in Tavistock this past weekend. Both earned $1,000. for the 33-year-old mother who is currently 5-months pregnant and due in November. Her 8-year-old daughter, Addison, was extremely excited about her mother's win, the $1,000 prize money and the Cliff Adams Memorial Trophy. “We’re rich!” Addison exclaimed as her mother came off the stage with the prize. Second place, the CJCS Trophy and $800, went to Charlotte Clare of Orangeville; third place to Emma March of Pembroke; and fourth place to Courtney Rosso of London; and fifth place to Chelsea Mott of Stratford. All Reel Drive, the trio of Miranda DeWetering, Katie Paradis and Katie Luckhardt also won their third straight Open Group Stepdance championship.
The girls, from the Sebringville and Mitchell area were given top marks in the class, $500 to share and the Nieberlein Family Trophy. Second place, the Korner Shoppe Trophy and $400 went to The Reel Deal - Maria Peppler, Grace Laceby and Charlotte Clare, all of Orangeville; third place of $300 went to All About That Step from Chelmsford; and fourth place of $150 to Tavistock's own Danen Quad. Miranda DeWetering also took home the 19 to 29 years of age Stepdance trophy for the second year in a row, placing second in 2014. This earned her the Larry Stacey Trophy. Every category was full this year with prizes up to 8th place in the 12 and under and 9 and under
categories. The youngest fiddler in the competition this year was 6-year-old Adlai Martin of Waterloo. The youngest stepdancer was Jannie Lemelin, 4, of Val Therese. Judges for the weekend competition included Ian Hamilton, Tyler Beckett and Scott Woods for the fiddle classes and Tiffany Fewster Salt, Sarajayne Dekker, and Chad Wolfe for the stepdancers. It was quite a sight to watch a pregnant Tiffany Fewster Salt as she danced with the other stepdance judges as they opened the Saturday evening show. Her baby is due in two weeks; plus she is scheduled to judge the upcoming Dorchester contest in four weeks. Next year’s contest is June 30th and July 1st.
Laurie James leaving Tavistock Public School after 5 years as Principal
BILL GLADDING / TAVISTOCK GAZETTE
Open Group Stepdance Champions - All Reel Drive - from the left, Miranda DeWetering, Katie Paradis, and Katie Luckhardt.
Tavistock Public School (TPS) will see some big changes next year. After five years as Principal, Mrs. Laurie James will be moving on to Central Public School,Woodstock. At the year-end assembly on Wednesday morning, June 29, 2016, Mrs. James said, “What a special place TPS is. You don’t realize,
it’s absolutely phenomenal … not only the staff, but the parents, students and volunteers. They want you to achieve and they give you the opportunity to do the best you can.” Mrs. James taught for her first 10 years at Tavistock School before moving on to serve other communities. She has 6 years remaining before
retirement. “If I say my prayers and find a four-leaf clover, maybe I can come back,” she said. For the remainder of the day she asked for tissues and “lots of hugs.” Nicola Bankes, who has served at Plattsville Public School will be the new Principal. (more on page 6)