The Villager 2017 April

April 2017

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Severn Township teen - one in ten-thousand!

By Ellen Cohen Adam Storey is a Severn Township resident and a grade 10 student at Orillia Secondary School. He is a hard-working, focused high school student who has been preparing for a trip to Vimy Ridge, France for many months. In early April, he and 9,999 other students from across Canada will make the journey to France in order to participate in the Battle of Vimy Ridge 100th Anniversary memorial service. This historic event is expected to draw a crowd of many tens of thousands.

Hundreds of the high school students who are going on this trip are from Simcoe County. Forty-five of those are from Orillia high schools. Each of those students was required to raise $4,000 to pay for their own trip. In addition, students, family and friends helped to raise funds for significant other expenses, including the cost of tour guides and substitute teachers who will take the place of the teacher chaperones.

Adam’s mother, Krista Storey, said the fundraising results for Adam’s trip were beyond amazing. In addition to Adam doing his own fundraising, a criterion for all students, Adam’s family used a variety of methods, including social media, to add to his results.

“People I hadn’t seen since my time in high school reached out to contribute.

Neighbours, friends, people from the

entertainment industry and more,” said Krista.

To take this trip, Adam prepared to take time away from school and he’ll make up for his time away. He will also set aside his music – he has his grade 7 Royal Conservatory piano and currently plays in four bands. Preparation has allowed him to be very excited about seeing the Vimy Ridge memorial, but he’s equally looking forward to the other landmarks and cities he’ll be visiting. He’ll be in Berlin and Amsterdam, participating in guided tours of both the cities and surrounding areas, and he’ll visit the landmarks such as the Topography of Terror Museum and the Anne Frank House.

Asked why he was interested in taking this trip to recognize something that happened so long ago, he said when the opportunity came up, he felt it was a good way to see and experience many of the things he’s currently learning in the classroom. In Adams words, “I am really excited to see things in person, not in a book.”

He added, “Going to the Vimy Ridge Memorial event will mean I’ll be experiencing something historic with people from all over the world while celebrating something (I’ve learned) is considered the birth of our nation (because of what the Canadian soldiers accomplished).”

As excited as Adam is about his upcoming adventure, he certainly understands how

Adam Storey of Severn Township, is one of 10,000 students who will participate in the 100th Anniversary Battle of Vimy Ridge memorial service. serious war is and, as many of us are, he’s conflicted about war and the devastating results.

“I’m really against violence,” he said.

“War and conflict are very complicated and confusing….there is no way I can comprehend one person killing another because they wear different coloured uniforms….but we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today without the wars.”

A hopeful young man, he said, “Looking into the future, I see war as unnecessary and avoidable.”

Continued on page 6

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3

Local seniors offered friendly visits

By Ellen Cohen Although most agree there could always be more or improved service for seniors, there are many professional organizations who cater to older residents in Simcoe County, including for after hospital care and ongoing care for those with chronic medical problems. For seniors with some disposable income, there are additional services available for help with activities such as shopping or transportation to medical appointments.

Cost or numbers of programs aside, one service that hasn’t been available is a friendly visitor program – until now.

Specifically meant for seniors who live alone and are lonely, the new Outreach to Seniors program has recently established itself in our area. Outreach to Seniors doesn’t take people shopping or to appointments.

Rather, the program and their volunteers fill a gap that is sorely needed - purely social visits to our local seniors.

The need for this program is obvious.

According to Statistics Canada, there are close to 37,000, or about one in ten people in Simcoe County living alone. In addition to that number, approximately 96,000 people identified as a person with some degree of activity limitation. It is certain that many included in these statistics are seniors living alone – and many of those are lonely.

Perhaps widowed and without family, or family nearby, they may be in need of some sort of social contact in order to help them feel more fulfilled and less lonely.

Wanda Minnings, one of the organizers of the Outreach to Seniors program and a member of St. Francis Church in Washago, says not all seniors who live alone are lonely, but so many are. And, she says, if

you add to that the fact that many have limited mobility, they feel not only lonely, but isolated.

“Outreach to Seniors is an on-the ground service that addresses the need of lonely seniors. We help to fill the gap between professional services and just a friendly visit,” says Wanda. She added that the friendly visits are for an hour a week and

program, “In Good Company” that has been offering a friendly visitor service for approximately 30 years.

Before taking the training, all volunteers go through a rigorous interview and then go to the OPP to complete an enhanced screening for working with the vulnerable.

The parish pastor of Guardian Angels Church then vets the final list of approved

© Can Stock Photo / Melpomene

could be just to sit and talk over a cup of tea, to take a walk, or perhaps read the newspaper together.

This friendly visitor service is offered to those living in their own home, a rooming house, or in a residence for seniors.

The comprehensive training for volunteers is provided by Catholic Family Services, an organization that has the credentials and experience to prepare them for their work with seniors. In fact, the curriculum is an extension of a Toronto

volunteers, a group of men and women who are eventually managed by Wanda.

There are currently volunteers trained and ready to serve our community.

If you are a lonely senior and would like to make a new friend, or if you know someone who might like to use this new Outreach to Seniors service, please call 705-326-2849, ext. 135 or ext.131 and leave a message. You can also email seniors.guardianangels@ gmail.com or acyruk@rogers.com.

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4

Ellen Cohen Publisher thevillagerpress@rogers.com 705-717-0322 The Villager, a Severn Township community news magazine, is an independently owned and operated publication delivered to households and businesses on or before the first day of every month.

It is mailed through Canada Post north from the Severn Township/Orillia border to Severn Bridge and includes parts of Ramara Township.

In addition to Canada Post delivery, The Villager is distributed each month through high traffic locations along the Highway 11 corridor and in many other select locations in Orillia. For a complete list of locations email thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

Editorial and advertising material is protected by copyright. Reproduction of any article, photograph or graphic is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher. The sentiments of our columnists do not necessarily reflect those of The Villager.

The Villager’s liability to advertisers for errors is limited to the portion of the advertisement in which an error occurs and only if the error is the fault of The Villager.

Community event submissions and prearranged editorial contributions must be received by the 10th of each month for the following month’s publication.

Advertising space must be booked by the 10th of each month in order to appear in the following month’s publication, with 5 business days thereafter to complete the advertising artwork and proof approval process.

The Villager P.O. Box 5 Washago, ON L0K 2B0

Art director: Cathy Cleary, www.cathycleary.tel

© Can Stock Photo / stevebyland

From the Publisher:

Spring has sprung Oh, the first sight of a robin in the spring. If ever there was a symbol of renewal and hope, this is it. The only thing that could possibly make it better is to see little green shoots of crocuses poking through the cold earth as that beautiful robin hops across the lawn.

For many reasons, spring is my favourite season of the year, not the least of which is the wonderful assault upon our senses.

In addition to hearing the delightful song of the robin, early spring brings the familiar sound of the red wing black bird and the happy twittering of an increasing number of Goldfinch coming to the feeder. And only in spring do we hear the sounds of melting ice drip, drip dripping through downspouts, or the trickling of melting snow as it runs along a country road into a ditch or stream.

Then there are the smells. Spring smells fresh. As the weather warms the soil in flower gardens and on lawns, the aroma is unique. Most especially to gardeners, the fragrance is unmistakable – moist and earthy. Gardener or not, however, this is something that makes everyone glad they’ve chosen to live in this wonderful part of our country, not surrounded by concrete but by trees in bud. On the opposite side of welcome aromas, if you have a dog, you might catch some whiffs of something not quite as lovely. But, all in all, the aroma of Mother Earth is exceptional.

Finally, there is the touch of the warming sun on skin that hasn’t been exposed to the elements for many months. It’s amazing how, suddenly it seems, the sun is so much warmer than it was only days before spring arrived. And the breeze – we called it wind in the winter - is so much less harsh. We are happy to lift our head and let the spring breeze mess our hair and tickle our face.

Since this is my favourite season, my goal is to stay conscious of all five senses and satisfy each of them all at once, as often as possible. Perhaps I’ll be fortunate enough to spend many days sitting on my deck hearing and seeing robins and other birds while smelling the fresh earth, feeling the healing touch of the sun while munching on a dish of the first late spring crop of asparagus!

Take some time this year to appreciate spring. It’s good for your soul.

A few notes about local events Because this is the time of year when the number of community events increases, it’s very important that the community knows about your event ahead of time.

In order to make sure that happens, your community event details must be received by us no later than the 12th of each month for the following month’s publication. Simply email details to thevillagerpress@rogers.com. We will always send you a confirmation.

Take some time to read the listings on page 26 of this issue. Among many other events, there are two traditional pancake meals in our neighbourhood and downtown Orillia and a Coldwater Easter event especially organized for children.

Letters to the publisher are welcome and may be emailed to thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

Letters may be edited.

5

Township update High speed internet service Following Bruce Stanton’s article in The Villager regarding the federal government’s funding for broadband coverage for rural and remote areas, Severn Township’s mayor, Mike Burkett offered some further comments and information.

Mayor Burkett gave assurance that the township and the county has made high speed internet access a priority for the past several years. In fact, a project called SWIFT (Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology) which includes Severn Township. Lead by Simcoe County’s Warden, and including Severn’s mayor, SWIFT will bring fibre connections closer to businesses and consumers, making it easier for internet providers to complete what is termed ‘last mile’ access. Construction should begin in 2018 but, Mike said, at this time he does not know exactly in which community it will start.

However, in spite of several hurdles to overcome, there is no doubt broadband for all residents is on the way and funding details, which are complex, are being worked out. The Federal Government’s pledge is $500 million for Canada designates 40% to Ontario, $200 million. The total cost is vastly more but other funding avenues are available or are being explored, as are partnerships.

“Funding is very complex and vital in order to enable us to move as quickly as possible, but partnerships are the most important aspect of ultimately making this project successful,” Mike said. Those partnerships include the federal government, the

province, the county, and private providers.“ “We’ll continue to work hard with everyone to move this forward. It’s a massive project that we believe will be completed in 4-5 years,” Mike added.

New homes in Severn There has been a lot of publicity recently about the increasing cost of purchasing a home in our province. The Toronto market is boiling hot and so is Barrie, a city that saw a 39% increase year-over-year this past February Severn Township appears to be a benefactor of this market. As families move away from higher priced markets, Severn Township offers an excellent alternative, especially because of its attractive, more rural lifestyle and moderate residential taxes compared to other communities, including Orillia.

Mayor Mike Burkett reported that our small-population community finished 2016 with 159 new home starts compared to 160 in Orillia.

Water system at Sandcastle The community of Sandcastle Estates, off Highway 11 south of Washago, has one of the seven municipal water systems run by the township. It has been operational for many years and is inspected daily.

Late last year, the Ministry of the Environment notified the township that the amount of chlorine flowing into the lake from the municipal water system exceeded provincial regulations.

Early this year, the township undertook

Severn Township mayor, Mike Burkett. work that included installation of a plastic ‘T’ that is filled with chlorine tabs. This new system strictly monitors the flow of allowable chlorine into Lake Couchiching, adhering to government rules. The work has been completed.

New staff Due to some recent changes, including retirements, there were several positions open at the Township of Severn. Two of the key positions have recently been filled.

Andrea Woodrow is the new Director of Planning. Andrea comes to Severn Township from her job at the City of Orillia. She brings Continued on page 15

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6 Designed by Canadian sculptor and architect, Walter Seymour Allward, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial took 11 years to build at a cost of $11.5 million. It was completed in 1936.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge • April 9-12, 1917 Canadians recognize the World War I Battle of Vimy Ridge, fought from April 9-12th, 1917, as the most celebrated military victory of our military. A Canadian led assault, the battle was part of an opening phase of a diversionary attack to take control of the then German-held ridge.

Before the Canadian Corps fought and succeeded in this mission, more than 100,000 French soldiers had died trying to take this key vantage point from the German forces.

Historians attribute the success of the Canadian Corps to a mixture of technical and tactical innovation, meticulous planning, power artillery support, and extensive training. Four divisions consisting of men from all over Canada were members of this corps.

A dangerous but vital battle, moving forward towards the ridge, Canadian soldiers encountered mud, sleet, snow and water-filled craters. Tragically, 3,598 Canadians died during the Battle of Vimy Ridge and 7,004 were wounded.

Severn Township teen one in ten-thousand!

Continued from page 1 While Adam is away, he’ll be taking photos to catalogue his journey and he’ll be working on special assignments his English and History teachers planned for him.

On his return, Adam will get back to his music and high school education. His hope is to eventually enroll in the new Georgian College/Lakehead University partnership to obtain an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science Environmental Sustainability Degree with an Environmental Technician diploma.

His mother, in the meantime, will worry along with all 10,000 students’ mothers. The memorial event will be huge, attended by leaders from all over the world.

Krista said, “Great security is in place and we can’t stop kids from growing and exploring. I really wanted to go with Adam but, at that suggestion, I got the ‘stinkeye’ from him!”

The Villager looks forward to some words and photos from Adam upon his return.

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Applause for women

By Ellen Cohen Every May, the Orillia Business Women’s Association (OBWA) hosts a special dinner and presentation ceremony to recognize local women and young women who have distinguished themselves. This year the event takes place on May 10th.

Shelle Hossack, the current president of the OBWA, says it’s an important event for those interested in getting to know some of our area’s outstanding women. It’s where both men and women can enjoy a good meal and a glass of wine and see and hear about some remarkable women.

“It’s an inspiring event. The audience hears about the lives of the nominees, women and young women who come from Orillia and the surrounding townships.

Each woman is as unique as the work each of them does for their employers, their community, and their families.”

Last year, the recipient for the Nelle Carter Woman of the Year award was Gill Tillmann of Gill Tillmann coaching.

Past Young Women of the Year: Maggie Little, Patrick Fogarty Catholic S.S.; Hui Yu Zhang, Twin Lakes S.S.; and Soren Meeuwisse, OD/Park S.S. All three demonstrated outstanding scholastic results and volunteer work.

Gill was chosen for this prestigious award nominated by meeting criteria that include for, among other things, her exceptional high scholastic achievement, participation community leadership through her work in extra-curricular school activities, and as an educator, and her volunteer work at volunteer work.

The Lisa Brookings award is named in Couchiching Jubiliee House, a transition honour of the first recipient of the Young house for women.

The Nelle Carter award is named for the Woman title in 2006. Lisa, a Twin Lakes late Nelle Carter. She was the president of Secondary School graduate has since a family business in Orillia, a president of graduated university with a Bachelor of the Orillia Quota Club, and the first woman Science in nursing.

Reservations for the gala evening, held elected to Orillia City Council.

The 2016 Lisa Brookings Young Woman at the Best Western Mariposa Inn and of the Year award went to Christy Scott of Conference Centre on Memorial Avenue in Orillia Secondary School. Young women, Orillia, are available on the OBWA website Grade 12 Orillia high school students at orilliabusinesswomen.com. seeking post-secondary education, can be

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9

Have some fun, try handmade Asian wonton soup

By Chef Becky Proprietor of Black River Food Company and a teacher in our region for Loblaw Companies Limited.

Ingredients: • 1 litre homemade chicken stock (store bought will do, maybe low sodium) • 1 bunch scallions • 2 inches of peeled ginger, sliced into very thin coins • 4 shitake mushrooms • Sesame oil • 8 ounces of either ground chicken, turkey, beef, pork or shrimp • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced • ¼ cup Thai basil or coriander, torn • Ground pepper • Wonton wrappers, round • Saucer with warm water

Method: In a large pot add chicken stock, 1½ inches of ginger, 1/3 of the scallions in a ¼” slice, 1 clove of garlic minced. Bring to a simmer and then turn it to low.

In a bowl add the meat or fish, the rest of the garlic, the rest of ginger (minced), and finely diced shitake mushrooms. Add 1 tbsp. sesame oil, black pepper to taste, a dash of soy sauce.

Add herb of choice and mix thoroughly.

Place wonton wrappers on flat surface and add 1 tbsp. of filling into the centre. Do not overfill - leave enough space on the outer edge to allow it to be pressed together without the filling squeezing through.

Decked out in shamrocks

Using a pastry brush, lightly apply the warm water just to moisten the wonton, then fold in half (will look like a half moon). Gently press edges together to seal.

Place filled wontons in soup stock and bring to a simmer.

Cook 15-20 minutes until centre of wonton is cooked through.

For fun, add the sliced shitake, spinach, bean sprouts, and scallions as garnish just before the wontons are cooked. If desired, drizzle served soup with soy or ponzu sauce.

Drop in to see our new

Spring & Summer Collections

By Marylynne White, Past-president March meetings are always fun.

At our first meeting in March, our speaker was Ina Patterson. Ina is our club treasurer, but when she is not performing those duties, she does a lot of volunteer work. One of her volunteer jobs is with Foodland in Orillia. Foodland has a grocery delivery service for those in need. Ina is on the phone bright and early every Monday morning receiving grocery orders. Other volunteers do the shopping. The orders come from people living in Orillia, Washago and surrounding areas. Ina has been taking these calls for many years, and finds this service invaluable to many residents. It was a most interesting and enlightening talk.

At our second meeting in March, we were entertained by the Harmony Sounds and Ukulele group. The Irish songs were lively and our members joined in with gusto. The choir sang beautifully and we were treated to a solo by a wonderful soprano singer. The men of the choir sang “Peg of My Heart” which was really good!!

There is something wonderful about Irish songs. The tunes bring up many emotions, including both melancholy and happiness.

Everyone was decked out with green and white shamrock scarves and exquisite Irish hats!! A fun crew, for sure.

Always a great time at Washago Seniors!

Dressing the Lady ‘better than 35’ 3363 Muskoka St., Washago 705-689-6603 OPEN TUESDAY-SATURDAY, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

10

Rotary explained In Washago we describe our club like this: we are a group of kindred spirits who are devoted to having fun and making our local and international community a better place.

Internationally we describe Rotary like this: Rotary is a worldwide network of inspired individuals who translate their passions into relevant social causes to change lives in communities.

There are 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

Clubs are non-political, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds.

As signified by the motto Service Above Self, Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.

The Washago Rotary Club is one of the 33,000 clubs and we fit the mold quite well.

Each club is autonomous and each club carries its own personality that is made up by its own unique membership.

In Washago, we try to focus on initiatives that will make our community a better place for all residents in our entire area. Our

current focus is helping the youth get more out of their community. Our projects in Washago Centennial Park and sponsorship of many local youth teams help to keep them active and engaged.

We keep our doors open for other likeminded people who can help us with our initiatives. Perhaps you have recently moved to Washago, or have lived here all your life. And perhaps you long for a better community. You may find the answer in Rotary membership where we develop community projects and see them through to the end - and we have fun doing it.

The Rotary Club of Washago & Area – Centennial meets every Thursday at 5:00 p.m. and ends at 6:30 p.m. sharp.

Remember that our annual Wild Game Dinner is coming up on April 22nd. You can buy your tickets in advance from Hooper’s in Washago, or contact us through our Facebook page, Rotary Club of Washago and Area-Centennial.

The Washago CANADA 150 committee Needs Your Help!

July 1st volunteer to help set up the Canada Day event, run some events, or help clean up.

All ages are welcome!

STUDENTS: the committee will verify your volunteer hours.

11

Concern over school closings

By Patrick Brown, Simcoe North MPP and Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario When I was first elected as your MPP, I made the decision to assume the duties of Ontario PC education critic.

Most party leaders don’t take on critic portfolios, but the education sector has been very important to me because I grew up in a family of teachers. I also wanted to continue my predecessor, Garfield Dunlop’s incredible work on the file.

One issue increasingly comes up in my conversations has been the devastating impact of school closures.

Schools represent the heart of our communities and closures, often without sufficient consultation, are tearing our communities apart. For students, it can mean more time on a bus and less time for a part-time job or extra-curricular activities such as hockey or soccer. And it puts the lives of parents on hold as they try to fight for their child’s future, only to often be ignored in the end.

As an MPP and a legislator, I had to do something to stop the closures. This is why I was so proud to introduce an opposition day motion earlier in March to put a moratorium on school closures in Ontario, and to review the flawed Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines that determines school closures.

In 2015, the government released new Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines. I feel the changes ignored a school’s broader community value, while also sharply reducing the minimum length of time for the public consultation process. Simply put, I feel this new process is grossly unfair and undemocratic, as it removes all checks and balances.

Here in Simcoe County, our community itself has not been immune from the impacts of school closures.

Port McNicoll lost their school. Waubaushene lost both their Catholic and Public elementary schools. Barrie Central closed its doors, and nearby in Honey Harbour, Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School was just voted to be closed. The other school in the town is also under a review for closure.

The government’s own numbers reveal 300 schools across the province are being considered for closure.

While sadly my motion was voted down, I pledge to continue standing up for our students, our parents, and our schools, as both your voice at Queen’s Park and as the Ontario PC Caucus’ education critic.

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12

More amazing Lioness members

• 7 0 5-71 7-03 2 2 •

By Estelle Ness, Lioness President

I know we have set records for snowfall this winter. If you are like me, it is time to call a halt to it! A week ago, the snow was melting, the birds were singing and the squirrels were playing.

But as I write this, we are in the midst of another blizzard. With our Court Whist just 6 weeks away, I promise to have a path shovelled out so you can reach our building.

I introduced you to our oldest members in the last edition of The Villager. Now I will tell you about the next three in line.

Shirley Sammarelli is a Life Member. Her age, in her words, is described as ‘doing her 4th driving test’. She moved to Severn Bridge from Agincourt 26 years ago. Her family built a home on a high rock near the

Blue Bridge on the way out to Sparrow Lake. Ten years later they moved to Bayou Park and remained there for 13 years and then Shirley moved to Orillia.

Shirley’s family keeps her very busy but she does manage to get out to Court Whist and talk to all the folks.

Joan Hallett is also a Life Member. At age 82, she has 26 years of service to Lioness. Joan is a resident of Severn Bridge and has lived on the river for 27 years. She is originally from Brampton and moved here when she retired. Joan has served as President of our Club and been very active in the Washago Seniors.

Carol Buckley, the third Life Member to talk about in this article, is 79 years old. She has

25 years of Lioness service. Carol moved to Washago 28 years ago from Burlington and resides on the Green River. At present, the Buckleys have 3 swans living along their waterfront.

In the summer, Carol can be seen swimming in the river at all hours of the day and night.

Carol is a Lioness Past-President and has held various other positions. At present she is our Social Director and she keeps us up to date on what is happening in Washago.

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They volunteer at community events and donate to fundraisers.

They remember your name and order products you ask for.

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13

Lions donate to many causes The Washago Lions held a dinner meeting on Monday, March 13th. 2016. As usual, the meeting began with an excellent meal. Our meeting on Monday, March 27th focused on the finalization of voting for our new executive.

As we’ve mentioned in The Villager’s previous issues, this year is extra-special because Lions International are celebrating 100 years of Lionism. We are planning many great events, especially for Canada’s 150th birthday.

For those not familiar with what Washago Lions members contribute, our club donates to and supports organizations such as the Camp for the Deaf, LCIF (Dog Guides), CNIB Lake Joseph, Camp Huronda, Lions Camp Dorset, Lions

International, 2nd Washago Scouts and much more. This year we are also supporting Friends of the Washago Water Tower, a local initiative to beautify the historic water tower on the edge of Washago.

Our Lion Garnet Langelle felt the need to arrange a bit of fun for Lions Club Members and non-members. Join us on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month for a game of darts.

This will start very soon, so call Garnet at 705 689 3974. Details will also be posted on the display board on the outside wall of the Home Hardware in Washago.

DOUGIE’S JAM

Wednesday, April 19th at Washago Lions Hall

7:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.

CANADA 150 event update The Canada 150 Washago event committee continues to work towards putting together a memorable July 1st for area residents.

Details are coming together nicely regarding activities, displays, music, food and more.

In addition to the event details, at the committee meeting at the end of February, Christina Westcott announced some very good news. The grant application she and other volunteers worked on and presented to the Orillia Community Foundation was approved, adding $2,000 to the event bank account. Although the committee still needs to raise more funds, this grant will go a long way to ensure the success of the Washago Canada 150 celebration.

Volunteers are needed to help set up, run the day’s events and clean up after the celebration. All ages are welcome. The committee will verify volunteer hours for students.

Email thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

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Washago Community Centre Spring Programs & Upcoming Events 705-689-6424 • www.washagocommunitycentre.com $10 discount if registered & paid by April 8 • Programs are 8 weeks long.

Visit www.washagocommunitycentre.com for the 2017 Spring Programs & Registration forms Membership to the Washago Community Centre is an annual fee of $12.00

DATE

EVENT

DATE

EVENT

April 6

Registration at the Washago Community Centre, 5:00 - 7:00pm

April 20

Zumba • 7:00 - 8:00pm Cost: Members $68.00, Non-members $78.00

April 7

Resumés due for the Summer Day Camp positions

April 22

April 8

Registration at the Washago Community Centre, 9:00 - 11:00am

Express Yourself Performing Arts • 9:00 10:00am (Ages 4-6) & 10:00 - 11:00am (Ages 7+) Cost: $45.00 each

April 28

April 14

Line Dancing 2nd and 4th Fridays - drop in for only $2.00 • 7:00 - 8:30pm

Line Dancing 2nd and 4th Fridays - drop in for only $2.00 • 7:00 - 8:30pm

April 29

April 17

BLT Stretch & Tone Class • 6:30 - 7:30pm Cost: $56.00 members, $66.00 non-members

Washago Community Centre Annual General Meeting • 1:00pm. Everyone welcome to attend

May 20

April 18

Yoga • 4:30 - 5:30pm (Gentle) & 5:45 - 6:45pm Cost: $68.00 members, $78.00 non-members

WCC Craft & Yard Sale on the rink.

Call the WCC to book your table for $15.00

May 20

Sign up for Summer Day Camp

April 18

Body Fit Balance Ball • 7:00 - 8:00pm Cost: $56.00 members, $66.00 non-members

May 23

T-Ball • 5:30 - 6:30pm (Ages 4-8) Cost: $40.00 (register by April 8 to receive $10 discount)

April 18

Ball Hockey • 6:00 - 7:00pm (Ages 6 to 11) & 7:00 - 8:00 pm (Ages 12+) Cost: $40.00 each

May 23

Softball • 6:30-7:30pm(Ages 9-13) Cost: $40.00 (register by April 8 to receive $10 discount)

April 19

Karate • 5:00 - 5:45pm (Defending Dragons) & 5:45 - 6:30pm (Advanced). Cost: $47.50 each

PLEASE NOTE: For T-Ball and Softball, spaces are limited!

Need baseball glove & running shoes to participate. Helmets provided BUT shared with others.

April 19

Body Fitness Plus • 6:45 - 7:45pm Cost: $56.00 members, $66.00 non-members

July 3

April 20

Acrylic Landscape Painting • 9:00 - 10:45am Cost: $68.00 members, $78.00 non-members

Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC) - a free Outreach Program for children ages 0 to 6 years with parents and caregivers.

For more information and to register call 705-325-1299.

Summer Day Camp starts & runs till August 25

Schedule at-a-glance: Mondays: BLT Stretch & Tone Tuesdays: Yoga • Ball Hockey • Body Fit Balance Ball • Plus, starting May 23rd, T-Ball & Softball Wednesdays: Karate • Body Fitness Plus Thursdays: Acrylic Landscape Painting • Zumba Fridays: Line Dancing (drop in; no registration required) Saturdays: Express Yourself Performing Arts for children 4-6 years and children & youth 7 years+

15

Township update

Township of Severn Wards Major Highways/Expressways WARD Highways

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with her valuable municipal experience and a sound knowledge of all processes.

The new Director of Public Works is Derrick Burke. Previously the operations manager for the City of Barrie, he also brings vital experience and knowledge necessary to lead this department.

Mayor Mike Burkett says that besides their experience, Andrea and Derrick bring some great new ideas and a lot of enthusiasm for £ ¡ our community.

Mike is very grateful to those who helped while these two positions were vacant. Eric Marshall, the acting director of planning, £ ¡ filled the void and did an excellent job £ ¡ as did CAO Henry Sander and Michelle Prophet-Healy, Human Resources/Health & Safety Officer.

“In fact, the entire staff give a little bit more every day whenever we are short£ ¡ staffed. On behalf of council, I thank everyone who works so hard to make sure The above map shows new ward boundaries, effective for the next municipal election in the the township office runs well on behalf of fall of 2018. our residents.” area). Accordingly, the geographical area of have a closer look at this new boundary map New ward boundaries Ward 4 will be reduced in 2018, some of as well as the current one, visit the township After a comprehensive review by a that area moving to Ward 3. website at townshipofsevern.com. consulting firm and input from Severn Port Stanton – through a quirk of the To discuss these, or any other township Township residents and council, new ward method in which voting stations are located, issues, ward councillors’ contact information boundaries have been announced. voters in this area have had to travel to the is listed on the website or call 705-325-2315.

The map on this page shows the Matchedash area, 40 minutes away, to vote. boundaries that will be effective in the This will be resolved. fall of 2018, in time for the next municipal Sandcastle Estates, a community of 65 • 7 0 5-71 7-03 2 2 • election. homes, sits one exit south of Washago Mayor Mike Burkett says there were a but is currently part of Ward 4. The new number of reasons to undertake a boundary boundaries will change this. Sandcastle review and he cited some examples: Estates will become part of Ward 5 which Current and future growth in certain includes Washago.

• th m• e v ill areas will soon upend the balance of ward There are other changes to ward a g e r p r ess @ r o g e r s. c o population, especially in the current Ward 4, boundaries. More information will come West Shore (Cumberland Beach and Ardtrea from the township but, in the meantime, to Railroads

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Beware of scam artists

• Do not wire money to someone you’ve never met • If they are out of the country or can never meet in person, walk away

3. Identity Fraud ($11 million lost) Scammers steal your identity to secure credit cards, bank loans, and even rent property in your name. Even children are susceptible March is Fraud Prevention Month, and to to identity fraud. mark it, the Competition Board of Canada, in • Never carry your SIN with you conjunction with the Better Business Bureaus, has released a list of • Change your online passwords regularly the Top 10 Scams that Canadians were victim to in 2016, as well as tips on how to spot a scam. If you receive a suspicious call or email, 4. Advance Fee Loan ($1.1 million lost) Paying an up-front fee to get a loan is illegal in Canada and the US. you can call the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

These scammers prey on those who don’t qualify for loans through reputable lenders.

1. Employment Scam ($5.3 million lost) The most reported scam to BBB Scam Tracker. You likely didn’t • You are not required to pay a fee to receive a loan apply, much less get an interview for a job you can do from home. • Seek alternative finance options It’s just a cheque cashing scheme that is simply too good to be 5. Online Purchase Scams ($8.6 million lost) Scammers have new online avenues to take your money and trust. true.

Counterfeit merchandise, goods that never show up, fake websites, • Do your research on any company before accepting a position • If you are asked to deposit a cheque and send money back, it’s and free trial traps are everywhere.

• Shop on legitimate websites not a real job • Use third party payment portals such as PayPal 2. Romance Scams ($17 million lost) Online dating is big business to scammers. Canadians give away 6. Wire Fraud - “Spearphishing” ($13 million lost) a lot of money as they give away their hearts to Catphishers. Spearphishing is a big problem for the business community.

Catphishing is when a fraudster fakes an identity and tricks Millions are lost when scammers pose as company brass and someone via dating sites into a phony emotional or romantic demand money be wired to a fake company email.

• Create payment redundancies in your organization relationship for financial gain.

• Be vigilant on any incoming emails

By Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton

7. Binary Options Scam ($7.5 million lost) Big promises of low risk, high returns, and full refunds entices

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• You do not have to pay to receive lottery winnings • Contact the corporation directly 9. Canada Revenue Agency Scam ($4.3 million lost) Our number one scam in 2016. While this scam is still being reported, a crackdown on a call centre in India in 2016 has seen a dramatic decrease in the number of calls targeting Canadians.

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New event comes to Orillia Comic-Con, May 21st

The idea of a Comic-Con event will most often bring to mind an image of a gathering of nerds, similar to what is depicted on the television show, The Big Bang Theory.

However, founder of the first-ever Orillia Comic-Con show, Carmine De Santo says this isn’t quite accurate.

In fact, Carmine says he believes the audience in Orillia will be varied in age and interests, all with a love of all forms of pop culture. Orillia Comic-Con will present a balanced presentation of movies, celebrities and gaming and, of course, lots of comics.

One of the highlights of the Orillia ComicCon will be the opportunity to meet some of your favourite creators from many different mediums. As of the writing of this article, Orillia Comic-con has confirmed four well-known comic book creator guests including: writer Fabian Nicieza, the cocreator of Deadpool; artist Mark Bagley, the creator of carnage and Spider-girl, also known for his various runs on Spider-man; legendary artist Bob Layton who is the co-

founder of comic book publisher Valiant; and artist Leonard Kirk who has created numerous books for Marvel and DC Legend.

More announcements to come as new guests are confirmed.

The show also includes an artist alley where amateur and professional artists (local, national and international) can show off and sell their work or get the word out about their business or new project.

Certified Guarantee Company (CGC) will have representatives at the show for artist witness signings and they will accept all comics for CGC grading. If you have a key issue comic or a particular issue you just love, bring it to the event to have it professionally graded and preserved.

Orillia Comic-Con will host a cosplay party and contest, a Halloween-like event where guests can dress up as their favourite comic, comic character, video game, cartoon, anime or movie character. Carmine is sure that this will be a highlight of the event as costumes will range from amateur and fun

Orillia Comic-Con takes place on May 21st, the first-ever Comic-Con event in the area. to professional-looking costumes. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes.

Orillia Comic-Con will be held Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Barnfield Point Recreation Centre, 500 Atherley Road, Orillia, Ontario.

For tickets and other information, go to www.orilliacomiccon.com.

Clean out your garage and help your community Habitat for Humanity, with the help of donors, volunteers and community partners builds affordable housing and promotes home ownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.

The organization also raises funds through their ReStores that sell donated items to the public.

In an effort to keep their retail outlets well-stocked with good home-goods, Habitat for Humanity needs your help and, in turn, you’ll benefit.

Between April 7-16, PropertyGuys.com will join forces with Habitat for Humanity for their Spring Clean initiative. Jason Schlegel, Property Guys franchise owner in Orillia and Muskoka says volunteers will come to your home and pick up unwanted but in good repair home goods, saving you the time and trouble to get rid of those items.

Visit habitat.ca/ReStore for more details.

Tell our readers about your Community Event Email thevillagerpress@rogers.com by the 10th of the month for the following month’s issue

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The April songs of Chorus Frogs

By Ron Reid

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One of the pleasures of spring-time is listening to the sounds of frogs outside your bedroom window in the quiet of the night.

If you are near wetland areas, you may have noticed that different kinds of frogs call at different times, starting with the tiny frogs such as Spring Peepers in April and May, and ending up with larger species like Green Frog and Bullfrog in early summer.

The earliest of all local frog species is the Western Chorus Frog, which starts off this symphony of frog song during warm days in early April.

Like all frogs and toads, male Chorus Frogs sing to attract a mate. During this critical period in their life cycle, they hang out in shallow wet areas, often in grassy seasonal ponds in fields, but also in marshes and ponds surrounded by forest. For these tiny frogs, only about one inch in length, the critical factor is water without fish. If large predatory fish like Pike or Bass are present, singing frogs become a tasty treat.

Even small fishes will feed on frog eggs or tiny tadpoles.

The challenge, of course, is that shallow isolated wetlands without fish generally dry up by summer, so frogs that depend on these habitats to renew their populations have no time to waste. Worse yet, nearly all Chorus Frogs have a lifespan of only one year, so they have only a single shot at reproducing. So they start early, sometimes while there is still ice on parts of the pond.

The egg masses laid in water hatch quickly, and tadpoles mature into adult frogs in a race against time before their watery habitat dries up.

Like all amphibians, Chorus Frogs emerge from the wetlands into an air-breathing adult stage, which scatters into nearby fields and moist woodlands. For the winter, these adults nestle under leaves or rotting logs, where they often freeze solid. This ability to freeze without cell damage, and to return to life in spring, seems like a tiny miracle, one that scientists are now studying to see what we can learn about coping with cold conditions.

Chorus Frogs are still fairly abundant in our area, although their breeding habitat

tends to be scattered among many small ponds. But in parts of southern Ontario and Quebec where agriculture and urban development are destroying these small wet areas, populations are dropping fast,

© Can Stock Photo / Wirepec

During the warm days of April, listen for the Western Chorus Frog, the first of the spring’s local frogs. and Western Chorus Frog is now federally listed as threatened.

You can help by identifying active breeding ponds. Chorus Frogs have a distinctive song, a short, dry trill that sounds like a fingernail sliding on a metallic comb.

In early spring, it is the only frog likely to be singing during daylight hours, although as the much more common Spring Peepers begin their breeding season, they sometimes will sing in the afternoon as well.

When that happens, Chorus Frogs are more difficult to hear, and they can be confused with a similar release call made by satisfied Peepers.

If you hear Chorus Frogs this spring, please send information on the location, date, and numbers (single, a few, many) to me at bobolink.reid@gmail.com, and I’ll forward those records to the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas.

A regular contributor to The Villager, Ron Reid is a natural heritage consultant and the co-founder and former executive director of The Couchiching Conservancy. He has written more than 30 magazine articles and co-authored three books. He lives in Washago with his wife, Janet Grand.

21

Flooding – it’s that time of year

By Dianne Kyle, Fire Prevention Officer, Severn Township As I write this, the sun is shining and it is 6 degrees. So beautiful The following are some tips: • Listen to the radio or television for emergency information. after days of rain. And then I received an “Alert” via email telling me • Move essential items to an upper floor. we are in a snow squall watch. This seesaw weather has many of us • Turn of utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do wondering if we should be preparing for floods sooner this year. On so by local officials.

March 1st, Severn Township prepared a notice for sandbags due • Disconnect electrical appliances. Remember not to touch to the higher temperatures and the predicted rainfall. This can be electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water. found at www.townshipofsevern.com • Do not eat fresh food that has come in contact with flood waters.

If you live in an area that is prone to flooding you probably already • If you are new to the area, talk to your neighbors and find out have begun to prepare. For the rest of us, I suggest you check about the history of flooding around your home. Remember to to ensure your sump pump is working and keep an eye on your BE PREPARED! Plan ahead. property. For myself, there has never been a time where water was an issue. However, I still check the sump pump often at this time of year. It has become a practice.

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22

Washago is on a natural super highway

By Mark Bisset In a world awash in maps, it’s a wonder they don’t have more impact on the public psyche. Perhaps it’s because most of us use maps simply to figure out how to get from A to B. Sometimes, however, a map comes along that tells a highpowered story at a single glance. Dan Majka, who works for The Nature Conservancy’s North American Region Science Team, has done just that with Migrations in Motion: Visualizing Species in Motion Due to Climate Change.

I think it is one of the best tools I’ve seen to illustrate something The Couchiching Conservancy spends a lot of time thinking about: natural connectivity.

Animals move and, given enough time, so do plants and trees.

But as a society, we too often think of nature as something highly static that stays in place and is frozen at a specific point in time.

That kind of thinking can lead to the creation of smallish, isolated nature reserves that are managed a bit like isolated camps keeping nature in and non-essential personnel out. Anything goes outside the fence line.

As our understanding of ecology has grown, so has our understanding of the interconnectivity of all nature, humans included. Ecological health depends massively on the preservation of connected natural space. Increasingly, without really understanding where we’re going, we are carving up, paving over

This still image of Migrations in Motion shows a pattern of species migration in the face of climate change that is astounding. Dan Majka of The Nature Conservancy’s North American Region’s Science Team created the animated map to illustrate species movement.

You can view the map at: http://maps.tnc.org/migrations-in-motion/#4/19.00/-78.00 and isolating the last remaining vestiges of that space.

Migrations in Motion illustrates why that might matter on a massive scale. Picking up on the idea of a weather map, Majka took scientific data about the projected migration of close to 3,000 species in the face of 2.7 degrees Celsius climate change over the next century. When a species habitat is modified, the natural tendency is to move to a more hospitable place. Majka took that data and combined it with information about remaining habitat corridors across North America to create his map.

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Washago is on a natural super highway Continued from page 22 The results are striking. Blue lines trace bird migration, while red lines follow mammals and yellow lines track amphibians. It’s important to understand that the map isn’t intended to show thousands of species moving thousands of miles and all ending up in Ontario. Rather, it’s a “big-picture” look at patterns over the course of a century.

Observe the map on your computer or tablet. Zoom in on the Washago area, and indeed our entire region, and it disappears under the stream. Simcoe County is a super highway for species movement. It is also slated for some of the most intense growth in the province over the next 25 years. Clearly there is going to have to be a very careful balancing act between development and conservation.

One of the keys to sustaining biodiversity in the next hundred years will be species ability to move. In his book The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben explains why large-leafed beech trees can no longer be found in Europe. During the last ice age about 15,000 years ago, the large-leafed variety of beech we know in Canada as American beech gradually moved south as its northern habitat was locked in glaciers. But when it hit the mountains of the Alps, it couldn’t survive in the higher altitudes. The ice eventually caught up and the species died out. In this part of the world, these beeches were able to spread south and then return north again when conditions were right. They survived.

We have to make sure we don’t build the urban equivalent of mountain ranges to cut off species as they move to adapt to changes that are occurring much more rapidly than those caused by glaciers creeping forward over centuries. The fact that there are so many threats combining against biodiversity now makes that imperative all the more urgent.

Sadly, our beech trees are now facing extinction from a different threat. Beech bark disease spread by an insect introduced by humans from another part of the world may yet end the march of the large-leafed beeches. But natural connectivity could play a role even in that story.

Spend some time with Migrations in Motion by going to http://maps.tnc.org/migrations-in-motion/#4/19.00/-78.00 Mark Bisset is the Executive Director of The Couchiching Conservancy, a non-profit land trust which has helped protect more than 12,000 acres in the Lake Couchiching region since 1993. For more information on the Conservancy, go to www.couchichingconserv.ca

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Award winning play With files from Christopher Durang, Mariposa Arts Theatre

It’s spring!

By Pat Harwood, Recreation Coordinator The ice is out at the Coldwater & District Community Centre and we welcome Coldwater Ball Hockey for Youth and, new this year, the South Simcoe Rebel Rollers.

Pickleball is also available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Registration is required.

Recreation programs are slowly moving outside with some returning favourites.

Little Kickers and T Ball will be offered at the Coldwater Fairgrounds and ball diamonds for May and June. But, until the spring rain cleans everything up, Little Monkeys and Sport Ninjas! are both being offered at Marchmont Public School in April.

Don’t forget our really cool programs Lego Animation, Silent Film Making and Claymation. These are all day specialized programs using camera technology and computer software and both are provided.

Also, look at our In the Mix programs using innovative techniques to get kids moving!

Out in the parks you will see some new equipment preparing the ball diamonds and bringing our facilities to a higher standard. Please book all your diamond and soccer field usage through the township offices to avoid possible disappointment.

Playground work continues in Bass Lake Woodlands Park and Marchmont Community Park and Timberline Park will see more improvements to the playgrounds in 2017.

Don’t forget to plan on celebrating Canada’s 150th by visiting one of many celebrations in the township.

If you have any recreation issues or concerns, please call the Township of Severn offices at 705-325-2315, ext. 253.

Visit our website at townshipofsevern.com.

sizes 6 - 18

Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for best play, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike makes its debut at The Orillia Opera House.

The play is about middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia who share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives.

Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. Old resentments flare up, eventually leading to threats to sell the house.

Mariposa Arts Theatre (MAT) is a not-forprofit community theatre foundation. The board members, director, crew and cast are all volunteers. Their goal is to present quality theatre to the greater Orillia area.

MAT also presents Film Nights, known for 21 years as one of the Orillia and area premier quality entertainment offerings, last year more than 4,600 people attended.

This year’s Film Nights season began in January but there are still films showing through to May 3rd. The MAT website has details about each of the films.

Directed by Michael Clipperton, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike runs at the Orillia Opera House until April 9th. Evening shows begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinées at 2:00 p.m. Tickets, $25.00 each or $20.00 each for groups of 10 or more, are available at orilliaoperahouse.ca or call 705-326-8011.

Orillia Legion supports new vital signs monitors for OSMH The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 34 has donated $7,560 towards the Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation. The funds were designated towards equipment at the hospital and went towards the purchase of vital signs monitors.

Pictured, from left, on Soldiers 1 with a vital signs monitor is Rick Purcell, President, Branch 34, Chuck Penny, Legion Member, and Nicole McCahon, Executive Director, OSMH Foundation.

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March 30 – April 9 Mariposa Arts Theatre Foundation presents their new production “Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike”, March 30, 31; April 1, 2 and April 6-9, Orillia Opera House. For details, go to mariposaartstheatre.com.

April 3 Meat Loaf Lunch, including beverage and dessert hosted by the Severn Bridge Women’s Institute.

12 Noon. $8. Severn Bridge Community Hall, 1035 Southwood Rd. Severn Bridge. Call Fern at 705687-4462.

April 7-16 PropertyGuys.com and Habitat for Humanity Canada join forces and collect unwanted, in good repair home-goods that will help two local ReStores increase inventory.

Details at www.habitat.ca/ReStore.

April 8 Hewitts Pancake Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Pancake breakfast topped with Hewitt’s maple syrup and maple sausage. Kids’ activities available. Details at hewittsfarmmarkets.com.

April 15 Easter Extravaganza. Join the Easter celebrations on the main street in Coldwater. Piñatas, games and more. Visit coldwatervillage.ca.

April 15 Great Easter Egg Hunt in Downtown Orillia. Kids – search for hidden Easter eggs. Win prizes and trade your eggs for chocolates donated by Apple Annie’s. Meet the Easter Bunny. Face painting.

Colouring contest. More details at downtownorillia.ca.

April 19 Dinner at Brewery Bay Restaurant on Mississaga St. in Orillia. Fundraiser event for Friends of the Washago Water Tower. Live music. Silent auction. Make your reservations today! Choice of 5:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. seating. Call 705-689-0961.

April 20 All You Can Eat Pancake Supper, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Ramona Hall, 2212 Fairgrounds Rd., Washago.

Proceeds to the Ramara Fire Department.

April 20 The Ramara Historical Society – Marcel Rousseau presents. Orillia dairies and the history of ice cream scoops, including a show & tell of vintage ice cream scoops. 7:00 p.m. at the Udney Community Centre, 2347 Concession Road 10, Ramara.

Non-members are welcome. Light refreshments.

April 22 Tap into Maple at Grant’s Woods in Orillia with naturalist Dave Hawke.

A guided hike to learn about the process of sap flow, the ecological role and identification features of the iconic maple trees. Register at www.couchichingconserv.ca.

April 22 Roast Beef Dinner, 6:00 p.m. at the Coldwater United Church. Tickets are $20 and are available in the Village of Coldwater at Gary’s Crafts.

April 23 – May 13 Orillia Perch Festival, one of Canada’s largest registered fishing derbies. Great prizes, adult/children categories and Kids’ Day! Tudhope Park, Orillia. More information at

orillia.com or call 705-326-4424.

April 26 Roast Beef Dinner & Silent Auction at the Severn Bridge Community Hall (1035 Southwood Road) 6 pm.

Proceeds to the local Fall Fair. $15 for adults, $7 for ages 6-12, under 6 free. Call Michelle at 705-955-4060 or visit severnfair.org May 6 Coldwater United Church Spring Luncheon. Join us from 11:00 a.m.

– noon. Silent auction with local business and artisan donated articles.

May 27 Huge Outdoor Yard Sale at Ramona Hall. To reserve your free spot, call Tera at 705-689-2571, or Eileen at 705-689-6101. All others, plan to attend this huge sale from 8:00 a.m.

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