The Villager 2017 August

August 2017

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Local food festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

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Steampunk is back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

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No bats in the attic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Community events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

It’s a wrap!

By Ellen Cohen The members of the Friends of the Washago Water Tower Committee are celebrating, and rightly so. Their fundraising is complete, the township support is confirmed, the method of installation has been decided, and the artwork is ready.

“It’s official: the Washago water tower will get a fresh new look and become, once again, a beautiful landmark for the community,” said Kathy Nicholson, the committee chair.

The committee has worked for over a year on this project. Their primary focus has been on ensuring the community will get what they had paid for.

“Most of the money raised for this art installation came from community members. We wanted to make sure that it was very well done, something the community would feel proud about,” she said.

One of the committee’s first jobs was to investigate alternative methods of installation. By late this spring, it was obvious that anything other than a wrap method would mean the tower would have to be scraped or sandblasted. Not only might this method be prohibitively expensive, it could potentially expose lead-based paint, a serious concern for the Township of Severn.

In addition to the method of installation, the township raised other considerations about the project: the land the tower

The art shown above was painted by local artist, John LeBarr. The Friends of the Washago Water Tower committee hopes to see the installation completed by the fall. sits on belongs to CN Rail and there is an annual lease expense. Is the tower worth this expenditure? And the tower is not the original wooden structure. It was built in the 1970’s to supply potable water to Washago, not in the 1800’s when steam engines stopped in Washago to top up their water supply.

Learn more about John LeBarr on page 9.

However, the committee is happy to say that, in the end, not only was there continued robust support from the community, there was agreement between

the Friends of the Washago Water Tower committee and the township on key issues: although not technically historic, the tower is a well-known landmark and it represents the history of the village, a symbol of the past; an art installation adds aesthetic value to the community, an added attraction; and a wrap process will be used, considered the cleanest and safest method.

This long-awaited project is possible because of the hard work of the Friends of the Washago Water Tower Committee and the generosity of neighbours and friends – to the tune of $29,000. In addition, Severn Township has committed to $7,000; a Simcoe County grant generated $5,800; and the Rotary Club of Washago & Area – Centennial donated $5,000.

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Carving his way into Severn Township

By Ellen Cohen This past spring, some very large bears moved into the front yard at 8665 Highway 11 North, just south of Webers Hamburgers.

They moved in with some eagles, turtles, beavers and a variety of other wildlife.

They’re not real, of course. They are carved out of wood, pieces of art created by wood/chainsaw carvers and they live at the new location of Back Yard Stuff. The owner is John Kerr. He moved his business from Gravenhurst to Severn Township late last year, selling wood carvings, custom Back Yard Stuff is a new business in Severn Township. Shown above is owner, John Kerr; and furniture and more. employees Terri-Lynn Somerville and Tania Ward.

Before moving in, he had to clear out the building which had been a flea market business. He said it took many months to get rid of junk, restore the utilities, replace every window, repair floors, and clear out literally tons of garbage. While getting the business set up, John lived in a trailer on the property.

One his employees, Terri-Lynn Somerville who has been employed with Back Yard Stuff for 10 years, laughed and said it might

have been easier just to light a match.

John’s business is unique, not just the products he offers but every single piece he sells is one-of-a-kind. He sells two distinct types of wood products: One is the wood carvings – outdoor pieces such as bears, eagles, owls and other animals, and a large selection of smaller pieces such as bowls, home décor items and growth boards. Most of these items are made by carvers or woodworkers, artists who supply Back Yard Stuff.

The other products are made in the store workshop, most notably live edge tables, kitchen islands, picnic and garden benches, stools, and mantles. Everything that is made in John’s workshop can be custom ordered to exact specifications including the specific piece of wood from John’s ample stock.

John does the bulk of the actual wood work while his long-time staff, Terri-Lynne

and the newest employee, Tania Ward do finishing work such as sanding, dremelling, burning, and varnishing or staining.

In addition to managing his shop, John has been busy working with the township to organize the first annual Carving Event in Washago. It will take place at Centennial Park on March 16-18th, 2018. The event will feature carvers who will bring product and will also carve on site.

“I ran seven carving events in Gravenhurst so I can be confident that our show will have some of the best carvers in the province.

People will love the art they see at our event and will have fun watching the carvers create new pieces,” said John.

There are still opportunities for sponsorships for the show. John Kerr can be reached at 705-345-8957 or by email at back-yard-stuff@hotmail.com.

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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

A Great Blue Heron looking for breakfast at my house on Lake Couchiching.

From the Publisher:

Fabulous creatures On July 18th I woke up at 5:35 a.m. Not on purpose. I just did. I couldn’t get back to sleep so I flicked on the coffee, fed the cats and went out to my deck.

Luckily I had been very quiet, otherwise I would have frightened away a most magnificent Great Blue Heron. He was standing on the second step down into the water. The early dawn’s red light was shining on his feathers.

Hunched down, with unbelievable patience, he didn’t move a feather for 8 full minutes.

I didn’t see him catch anything but how herons exercise such incredible patience, I don’t know.

I quietly went back into the house, and back out, with my camera and without scaring him away. Luckily I was able to get some photos before he flew away where he might have better luck getting breakfast.

I’m sorry there was nothing for him to eat at my house but I am very grateful that this fabulous creature shared part of his morning me.

Dog days of summer Sigh. We are already halfway through the summer of 2017.

There are still many warm days and nights and so many things to do in our area.

See Community Events listings on page 26 and consider this sampling August events: The 2nd annual Local Food Festival takes place on August 26th at the two local farmers’ markets. This is a great opportunity to eat your way through the morning while supporting local farmers, producers and bakers of all things sweet and gooey. See details on the next page.

Another great event to consider attending is the Steampunk Festival in Coldwater on August 11th and 12th. I’ve attended this event twice and it really is full of fun for adults and kids, with events and activities from morning till night. Coldwater closes the main street on August 12 which makes the event feel light and free and very cosmopolitan. See page 13 for more information.

A perennial favourite is the Chippewas of Rama First Nation Powwow. It’s very close to where most of us live and it is a wonderful and uplifting way to spend a day. Dancers come from all over the Continent, as do drummers and vendors. The Grand Entry is at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on August 19 and at 12:30 p.m. on August 20th at 6030 Rama Rd. Letters to the publisher are welcome and may be emailed to thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

Letters may be edited.

5

For the love of local food

By Ellen Cohen Tasting tours, a catered lunch, cooking demonstrations, games, music, make your own smoothies and just good food fun. It’s all happening at the second annual Local Food Festival held at two local farmers’ markets on August 26th.

“Local farmers and food producers grow or supply just about everything you’d ever want to eat,” said Louise Cohen, the chairperson of the 2017 Local Food Festival.

“They offer a huge amount of variety and it will all be at the festival. You can’t get food much fresher anywhere else.”

One of the most compelling reasons to head to the Orillia Fairgrounds and the Downtown Orillia Farmers’ Markets is to see for yourself the variety and quality of fresh food that is grown, produced or raised only minutes away from where you live.

As they did many years ago, local farmers are once again growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including those identified as heritage, vegetables grown from seeds from long ago. Not found at grocery stores, the market vendors will have many different types, sizes, colours and flavours of crispy, fresh and tasty vegetables and fruits.

Meat lovers will also be impressed with what the Food Festival offers. You’ll find beef, chicken and pork from local farmers, including heritage pork from a local farmer who has his pigs forage in his forest rather than keeping them penned. The flavour of the meat, Louise says, is exceptional. She added that our area also has sheep farmers who produce sheep milk and sheep cheese

Offering a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, meat, baked goods, honey, soy products and much more, the 2nd annual Local Food Festival takes place on August 26th at two local farmers’ markets. and those products will be showcased.

Vendors at the Local Food Festival also offer freshly baked breads and sweets, eggs, honey, maple syrup, soy products and much more, all produced locally.

Activities are planned at both of the farmers’ markets, including games and music. Each will also have a tasting tour – buy a book of tickets and visit the vendors for samples of their products.

At the Fairgrounds Farmers‘ Market, Chef Melanie Robinson, a Chopped Canada winner, will prepare a farmer-inspired lunch with appetizer, main course and dessert.

This is a green event - BYOP (bring your own plate, cup and utensils). Tickets are $20/ adult, $10/kids under 12 years. This market will also have live farm animals on display.

The Downtown Orillia Farmers’ Market offers ‘Shop-Chop-Eat’. A ticketed event, participants will shop the market vendors

for specific products and then prepare a meal, coached by a food demonstrator.

There will be free kids’ activities in the library courtyard and kids and adults alike can take their turn on the Bicycle Blender.

Sponsored by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit – choose your favourite flavour and pedal to make your own smoothie.

Support for the Orillia Food Festival comes from the City of Orillia, The Sharing Place Food Bank, Georgian Bay Printers, The Villager, and many community partners.

“Come to the festival with your family and friends. You’ll be amazed at what’s available,” Louise said.

The Local Food Festival takes place Saturday, August 26th from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The locations are: downtown Orillia at Mississaga and West Streets; and at ODAS Park on Fairgrounds Rd. and Highway 12 West.

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Wow!

By Estelle Ness, Lioness President

(From left) Nicole Kraftscik, Development Officer, Major Gifts accepts a cheque from Sheilagh Rose, Think Feet, Doug Becker, Becker Shoes and Edward Moloy, Think Feet for Foot Health Awareness Month.

Over $3,100 raised for surgical equipment

Canada Day in Washago. Wasn’t that a party! The village was all decked out in red and white with flags everywhere you looked.

The parade was amazing, especially the children with their bikes and wagons all decorated.

The Lions put on a fantastic day that started with their annual pancake breakfast of sausage, bacon and genuine maple syrup.

They then served barbecue meals and showcased 10 different bands who played into the night.

The Lioness would like to take this opportunity to thank all the folks who supported them this year and purchased a 50/50 ticket on Saturday. The winner this year was Ryan Preston of Washago with ticket #408. He was presented with a cheque for $657.50.

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With files from Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, press release More than $3,100 was raised for surgical equipment at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital in celebration of Foot Health Awareness Month in May. The initiative was led by Think Feet Family Foot Clinic in Orillia who donated 5% of their earnings for the month, as well as Becker Shoes who made a large donation towards the cause.

“I’m thrilled that we were all able to work together to promote foot health as well as raise some much needed funds for OSMH,” said Sheilagh Rose, owner of Think Feet.

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7

Washago Community Centre Thank-you for a great Canada 150!

Thank-you to all of the volunteers who assisted with the Canada Day events celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday, and thank-you to all those who participated in the parade, many using so much imagination to decorate. Thank-you also to all the young children who decorated their bicycles for Canada Day and showed them off in the parade. Happy Canada Day! The float winners re: 1. Ramara Historical Society 2. Washago Home Hardware 3. Quasi Quilters Art and Summer Day Camps One of the most popular displays at the Washago Community Centre Both camps are now full. A big thank-you to Doug Cooper who is on Canada Day was “Canadian Inventions” presented by the Ramara teaching art camp again this summer.

Historical Society.

Our three camp counsellors started on July 3 - Sarah Ritchie, Taylor Long and Olivia Ball. They’ve been busy since the bell rang on the first morning. Lots of fun and games at the community centre until August 25th.

Fashion Show Thursday. September 21 @ 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be on sale on July 31 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available from Simply Special Originals on the main street of beautiful downtown Washago. Get your tickets early and avoid disappointment.

For all your rental needs – birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, retirement parties – consider the Washago Community Centre. 705-689-6424 or visit washagocommunitycentre.com

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Make the right choice

By Karen Kahle

Perennials are an important part of any garden. They add pizazz, colour and variety to the landscape. They add great value because they live for many years, provide a long blooming season, attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and give great cut flowers to enjoy indoors.

As we (sadly) enter the last full month of summer, it’s time to start reviewing what you have in the garden and to consider what to add to next year’s perennial selection. The correct choices will enable you to enjoy your perennials for many years and this Now O

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Choosing perennials with a hardiness zone 4 will ensure your plants have ideal growing conditions. means being mindful of ‘plant hardiness zones’. Hardiness zone is a geographically defined area in which specific plant life is capable of growing.

It encompasses climatic conditions such as a plants ability to withstand minimum temperatures. Most Canadian nurseries use the USDA zoning for their plant tags.

For Severn Township, the ideal perennial is a ‘zone 4’, hardy to -30F. If you choose ‘zone 5’, hardy to -20F, a little extra care may be required.

Most perennials will survive and thrive without any extra protection. However, if you have

exposed areas in your garden it would be beneficial to add a layer of mulch to help protect against winter kill. Winter kill is the death of plants by exposure to extreme weather. The freeze/ thaw cycles we experience cause roots and the crowns of plants to dry out which can also result in death.

Lastly, it is very important to make sure plants are watered in the fall and remember that exposed areas benefit greatly from a layer of mulch Pile snow on beds that are bare; this will help prevent soil from drying out and in turn prevent winter kill.

Karen Kahle is a professional gardener and proprietor of Fern Forest Garden & Greenhouse, who has served Severn Township and area for over 10 years. www.fernforest.ca.

9

John LeBarr, water tower artist

By Ellen Cohen John LeBarr loves Washago. It’s evident in the painting he submitted for the juried Water Tower art competition, a contest he won. We’ll see his art on the tower this fall. Full of colour and life, complete with fantastical animal-shaped constellations and larger than life swans, his painting represents his life-long attraction to the area.

As a boy, John’s grandparents would bring him from Orillia to Washago. John always thought of the area as mysterious.

“When you read books, especially mysteries, there is something secretive or unexplained about anything ‘on the edge’. That’s what this area is all about and it’s exactly where my property is – it’s right on the edge of the Canadian Shield where fabulous massive sheets and cliffs of granite begin and head north.”

John and his wife operate an animal rescue farm on their 200 acre property just outside Washago. They currently have a oneeyed miniature horse, a blind pot-bellied pig, two goats, chickens, geese, ducks and 50 rabbits, the number of which, John says, increases regularly.

The LeBarrs have seven grown children and ‘lots’ of grandchildren, with a set of twins on the way.

John has been painting and drawing since he was a young child and he’s also been a performing musician since he was 16-years old. He and his brother performed their folk roots music across Canada for many years. Both are recording artists.

Community members will be able to meet John when his art is unveiled in the fall.

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Some sights from Washago’s Canada 150 party Attention Washago & area residents: Because the volunteers are so busy during the event, we have too few photos of Canada 150.

At a recent community meeting, it was determined that moving forward, there should be one or two volunteers who are assigned to be the official photographers.

If you are interested in this volunteer position for the 2017 Santa Claus parade or the 2018 Canada Day event, please email thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

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12

Black River picnic Apple wood smoked BBQ chicken baguette with a watermelon and Feta salad drizzled with a balsamic reduction

By Chef Becky SANDWICH: • 2 cups sliced or shredded chicken. Can substitute with beef, smoked trout, cooked pork roast, etc.

• 1 baguette - your favourite high quality and local. Sliced in half lengthwise, lightly buttered.

• Your favourite mayo or sandwich spread.

• Garlic Hummus • 1 ½ cups mixed baby greens

• 2 small or 1 large sliced field tomato • Bermuda onion, small, thinly sliced • Avocado sliced, optional • Shrimp, 4 large cooked • 4 grape tomatoes • 4-6 slices of any smoked Ontario cheese, Gouda, cheddar, Havarti, etc. - or a mixture • 8 slices local field tomato

Serve this sandwich and salad with ice cold homemade iced tea or lemonade – or one of the great local ciders or brews.

WATERMELON & WILD MINT SALAD: Watermelon, slice into triangles and place in a line on a platter.

Crumble feta cheese over melon and top with wild chopped mint and cracked black pepper if desired. Drizzle with your favourite balsamic dressing.

Balsamic reduction method: reduce balsamic vinegar in a heavy pot over medium heat until vinegar reduces by about half and balsamic thickens.

To assemble, first toast baguette until butter is melted and it is slightly browned. Spread mayo on one half, hummus on the other.

Then layer ingredients, starting with meat on the bottom half of baguette, and ending with the lettuce. Sliced olives, pickles, beets, mustard are all options here. Top with baguette and skewer with shrimp and tomato with toothpicks. Wrap tightly and whole if transporting. Use a sharp bread knife to cut through the sandwich Chef Becky Lennerton is the proprietor of Black River Food Company and a teacher in our region for Loblaw Companies Limited. in desired lengths.

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Canada’s 150th – Steampunk style Steampunk, the art and costumes, is inspired by Victorian-era works of sciencefiction by authors who fantasized about what the future would look like – things like submarines, rocket ships and airships – all made of brass and copper. Of course, in their time, they envisioned all things

would be steam powered and, therefore, “Steampunk”.

For those who have not attended the Steampunk Festival in Coldwater, this is your chance to live in their time and fantasize along with them, especially enjoying the hundreds of spectacular costumes and the pieces of Steampunk art available at vendors and shops.

There are so many features and activities to take in, it is highly recommended that before you head to Coldwater, go to the festival website and review the jam-packed schedule.

Starting the festivities is the Rods & Classics Car Show on Thursday, August 10th from 6-8 p.m. on the main street. On Friday, you’ll find glass blowing demonstrations and wire sculpting, a children’s heritage exhibit, and a variety of activities at the new Hydro One Discovery Centre (next to the bowling alley) from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday, August 12th is the main event. From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Coldwater’s Returning this year is one of the very popular main street, The Coldwater Mill and the features of the 2016 Steampunk Festival, Coldwater Canadiana Museum will all have feature events and activities including live Theremin & bassoon musician, Jeff Burke.

Attendees go to great lengths to get completely ‘Steampunked’ for the largest festival of its kind in the country. music on three stages, strolling performers, magic and masters of illusion and heritage performers.

Road closure of the main street is in effect on Saturday. Free parking and a shuttle are available.

For show times, contests and general information, visit www.steampunkfestivalcoldwater.com.

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Showing Beautiful Art Created by ‘Artists of The Land Between’

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Jeff has a deep love of nature.

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14

Emergency services and capabilities to be enhanced Earlier this year, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) began the process of updating Canada’s 9-1-1 system to support the next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) services.

NG9-1-1 will provide Canadians with access to new and innovative emergency services and capabilities, made possible by the prevalence of mobile devices and the evolution of telecommunications networks. The aim is to bring NG9-1-1 voice services into service by June 30, 2020, and NG9-1-1 text messaging services by December 31, 2020.

Currently Canadians who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can utilize text messaging with 9-1-1 in many areas (please check www.textwith911.ca for more information on its availability), but this is not yet available to the general public, as text messages sent by the general public to “911” do not reach emergency services.

With NG9-1-1 services, Canadians could eventually stream video from an emergency incident, send photos of accident damage or a fleeing suspect, and send personal medical information, including accessibility needs, which could greatly aid emergency responders.

© Can Stock Photo / aetb

By Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton

The NG9-1-1 network will be constructed, operated and maintained by the Canadian telephone and wireless providers, under the oversight of the CRTC. There is also close cooperation with provincial, territorial and municipal governments, emergency call centres and emergency responders such as fire, police and paramedics. The CRTC has further recommended that Public Safety Canada establish a national coordination body to assist with the transition to NG9-1-1.

I will provide further updates as this effort progresses.

Our Canada Day Event was a Huge Success!

Thank You to everyone who attended our event. Thank You to every one of our very special hard-working volunteers. …and THANK YOU to all of our SUPPORTERS: • Jim Wilson Chevrolet Buick GMC, Orillia • Helix Contracting, Severn • Rotary Club of Washago & Area - Centennial • Century 21 B.J. Roth Realty Ltd., Brokerage, Washago (Agents Linda Hepinstall, Birgit Hoesterey, Nancy Humphreys, Michelle Williams) • KRS Cranes, Highway 11 • Mariposa Folk Festival, Orillia • Pat Stead in Memory Lion Geoff Stead • Gavin’s Grub, Washago • Back to Barbering, Orillia • Dr. Debra Shoniker Family Dentistry, Washago

• Northland Thai Restaurant and Motel, Hwy. 11 • Shakell Heating and Cooling Contractors, Oro • Timber Mart, Washago • Home Hardware, Washago • Home Hardware, Orillia • Log Cabin Restaurant, Washago • Hooper’s Café & Gifts, Washago • SRS Sound Reinforcement, Orillia • Muskoka Wrench, Severn • Leadbetter Foods, Orillia • Foodland, Orillia • Zehrs, Orillia

• Shaw’s Catering, Orillia • Montana’s BBQ and Bar, Orillia • Jason’s No Frills, Orillia • Anderson’s Fruit Stand, Washago • Washago Community Centre • Canoe Fresh Foods, Washago • Madison County Food & Beverage Company • Mary Hazlett • Event Water Solutions • Apple Annie’s Shop, Orillia

15

Ganaraska Trail joins conservancy’s efforts

By Mark Bisset As we work to protect the Black River Wildlands just east of Washago, I have become aware of how much time I have wasted in a car to get to places I perceived to be pristine escapes.

Kilarney is more than four hours from here; Algonquin two. Even Massassaga Provincial Park on Georgian Bay is a relatively long drive. How often I have driven right past the Black River without giving it a second thought. But it has always been there, flowing through the region in its many moods.

Since we began our efforts to protect a 730-acre tract with more than four kilometres of the Black River flowing through it, I have been spending more time on and around the river. My appreciation of this wilderness in my own backyard has grown exponentially.

The Black River Wildlands are actually inside Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park. This is a massive tract in its own right, brought into existence in the 1990s. But the park has enormous holes in it, still under control of private landowners.

The property we hope will become our next nature reserve is one of those properties, and bringing it under protection will add significantly to the integrity of the park, and the Black, which is one of the last unregulated rivers in southern Ontario.

But the Black River Wildlands will do something more than protect a huge portion of wilderness; it will also make it more accessible for the responsible enjoyment of this treasure.

The Black River Wildlands is shown above within the yellow portion on the map.

The Ganaraska Trail Association has entered into a partnership with The Couchiching Conservancy in our efforts to protect this property. The Ganaraska is the second-largest trail system in the province. Like the Black River itself, it is sometimes overlooked as the gem it is. Run by volunteers with a passion for hiking, the 500-kilometre trail runs from Port Hope on Lake Ontario to the Bruce Trail near Collingwood. A huge central portion of the trail meanders through Queen Elizabeth II Provincial Park. With a successful outcome to the campaign to protect the Black River Wildlands, The Couchiching Conservancy will be able to add about 10 kilometres of trail to the Ganaraska, almost half of that along the river. Working with Ganaraska and Ontario Parks, we hope to be able to create a day hike-loop from Victoria Bridge.

But first we have to raise enough money to bring this important piece of wilderness under protection.

The Ganaraska Trail folks and The Couchiching Conservancy have never really come together to work on a single

project but that’s now happening thanks to the Black River Wildlands. Add to that our growing cooperation with Ontario Parks, supportive organizations like The Gosling Foundation, and most importantly, a growing list of individual donors who are helping to make this reserve into a reality, and it generates a powerful sense of hope.

I invite you to get on board with this campaign by going to www.couchichingconserv.ca or by calling 705-326-1620.

Not only will you be doing something concrete to improve our local environment and guarantee access to these beautiful wildlands for generations to come, you’ll be joining a community of people who aspire for something better.

Mark Bisset is the executive director of The Couchiching Conservancy, a charitable land trust that protects important natural areas for today and tomorrow. For more information on the Conservancy and its work, go to www. couchichingconserv.ca, or call 705-326-1620.

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Enjoy summertime in Severn!

Are your grandchildren or your kids want something to do? There are many things they can do during their second month of summer vacation and at the height of tourist season.

Severn Township recreation programs are currently running for T-Ball and the Little Kickers/TBall Combo programs in Coldwater and Marchmont. There is Wildlife Fitness available at the Coldwater & District Community Centre, and in the Washago area, the community centre Day Camp provides programs.

Looking for special events? The Coldwater Steampunk Festival in Coldwater runs from August 10th through to August 12th. The main event day is Saturday, August 12th when the street is closed. Take your children or grandchildren to Coldwater to this event, perhaps the largest Steampunk Festival in the country. There will be many activities

to keep them entertained for the day.

One of the other bigger events in the township is the return of the Washago Car Show. It runs on Saturday, August 5th from 10:00 am to 3:00 p.m. at Washago Centennial Park, a facility that includes a playground and a beach with a brand new fountain.

In addition to programs and events, take the time to explore the different areas of the township – each community has something to offer as does each of the parks. And don’t forget about the many canoe/ kayak routes, cycling routes and the Uhthoff Trail all waiting for you to discover them! You can visit the township website for more details, townshipofsevern.com or check out ontarioslakecountry.com.

Have a safe and fun-filled summer!

Washago art theft In the 3rd week of June, community volunteers hung 24 wooden maple leaves on poles in Washago. All were painted by members of the Washago Art Club.

Sadly, two of those pieces of art, shown above, have been stolen.

If you have information regarding these two missing pieces, please call or email The Villager, 705-717-0322, thevillagerpress@rogers.com.

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No more bats in the attic

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Have you noticed the mosquitoes a little worse this year? No doubt the wet spring played a role, but it may also be partly due to the absence of Little Brown Bats, one of the major predators on evening mosquitoes.

Until 2012, Little Browns were by far the most common of the eight species of bats that call Ontario home. But within the next two years, this species was nearly wiped out in southern Ontario by a fungal disease called White-nose Syndrome, which was accidentally introduced from Europe. The disease continues to spread across Canada and the U.S.A; in eastern Canada the bat population has dropped by 94%, and there is uncertainty about whether Little Brown Bat can even survive as a species.

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) causes white patches of fungus to appear on the wings of affected bats, as well as around the nose. It mainly affects bat species that congregate together in caves and abandoned mines during the winter, where they survive the cold months by hibernating as a means to conserve energy. WNS causes bats to wake up and fly around at the slightest disturbance, seriously depleting their fat reserves and usually leading to their death.

WNS appears to be spread by direct contact between bats, or by picking up the fungus from cave surfaces. The disease has spread with extraordinary speed: since it was first detected in New York in 2006, it has spread into 25 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces. Last winter, it was found for the first time on the west coast, and biologists expect it will spread there quickly as well, killing millions more bats.

If there is any glimmer of good news in this sad story, it is that bat species which winter alone or in small clusters, such as Big Brown Bats, have so far been spared. If you see a bat swooping around the evening sky these days, it is very likely to be one of these solitary species.

Curiously, this disease has been present in Europe for many years, but bats there seem to be immune to WNS. Researchers in

© Can Stock Photo / stevebyland

By Ron Reid

Little Brown Bat Canada are hoping that the few surviving Little Brown Bats might have the same genetic immunity, so that they can be the foundation for a population recovery. But because bats only produce a single young each year, restoring their past populations will likely take 300 years.

What can you do to help? Installing a bat house will help ensure that the few remaining bats have a safe place to spend their days. Most of all, if you still have bats breeding in your attic or barn, treasure them and protect them! Get over your squeamishness about these tiny flying mammals – they won’t get tangled in your hair or suck your blood; they only want to hunt down insects and feed their young.

They need your sympathy and support now as never before.

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.

19

Enjoying my time in the community

By Patrick Brown, Simcoe North MPP and Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario Every single day, when I’m out and about in the community, I can’t help but remember how lucky I am to represent Simcoe County at Queen’s Park.

I’ve been serving our community, at different levels of government, for around 15 years and it never gets old. I treasure every single opportunity to sit down with constituents and to discuss the issues that matter to them.

Now that the Legislature has recessed for the summer months, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to spend even more time in the region listening to all of your stories.

In the past couple of weeks, I have had plenty of fun attending community events, like the Leacock Care Centre’s 4th Annual Golden Years Festival and the 57th Annual Mariposa Folk Festival in Orillia.

I have also spent time with local municipal politicians, including Tiny Township’s Mayor George Cornell and Beausoleil First Nation

Chief Mary McCue-King. We discussed how we can work together to make Simcoe County even better.

The busiest day of the year for any politician is Canada Day and I had a tremendous day travelling all across Simcoe County hitting as many different celebrations as I could squeeze into my schedule. I celebrated Canada’s 150th birthday with residents in Oro-Medonte, Elmvale, Penetanguishene, Orillia, Barrie, and Victoria Harbour.

But most importantly, I’ve been working tirelessly to ensure the issues that are important to Simcoe County are top of mind on the government’s radar.

I was proud to lead the charge against rural school closures at Queen’s Park. The Government finally listened, and for the time being there is a

moratorium on future closures in Northern and Rural Ontario.

I have continued to fight for sustainable and effective health care funding, including fighting cuts at Orillia Soldier’s, RVH, and Georgian Bay General hospitals and will continue to press for more affordable hydro prices and for real and lasting relief for Ontario families and businesses.

Let me know what issues you’d like to see me pushing at Queen’s Park. I am here to serve you so don’t hesitate to reach out to my constituency office at Patrick.brownco@pc.ola.org. My staff and I would love to hear from you!

BRUCE STANTON, M.P. SIMCOE NORTH

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Known for many years for its successful Canada Day festivities, the community of Washago didn’t disappoint for Canada’s 150th.

As is customary, food is one of the highlights of the celebration: the Washago Lions Club opened the day with their now famous pancake breakfast, followed at noon by a BBQ lunch; the Washago Rotary club members prepared freshly BBQ’d peameal bacon on a bun until they sold out; St. Francis of Assisi Church hosted their traditional luncheon; and the United Church served up what locals say is the very best strawberry shortcake ever!

Kids’ activities opened at the Washago Community Centre at 10:00 a.m. There were displays, a wildlife exhibit, a photo booth and games, including bubbles, hoops, sidewalk chalk, giant water guns and much more. Highlights of the day included t-shirt art hosted by the Washago Art Club and, of course, the bicycle decorating contest. Kids under 16 were also able to enter to win a new bicycle.

The winner is shown on this page.

As usual, nothing was better attended than the Canada Day Parade. The street was packed, some say in parts of Muskoka Street people were standing 10 deep. The parade was colourful, noisy and lots of fun for parade participants and observers alike.

And, because it was Canada’s 150th, many more people that usual attended the day’s events dressed in costume. They had the opportunity to march in the parade and enter the Rotary costume contest for cash prizes.

The Canada 150 and the Parade committees, and the Washago Community Centre extend a warm thank-you everyone who attended the event; to all the volunteers who worked so hard preparing for and working during Canada Day; and to our donors, especially The Township of Severn and The Community Foundation of Orillia & Area.

21

Centennial Park beach fountain installed

By Christopher Carman, Past-president What a busy start to summer for The Rotary Club of Washago!

We kicked off Canada Day with our annual Bacon on a Bun BBQ. With thanks to Blue Marlin Sea Food and the hungry residents of Washago, we made over $800 which gets pumped right back into the community, supporting programs and projects such as the kids Tee-Ball league, Rama Soccer and the water fountain in Washago Centennial Park.

For those of you who don’t know – breaking news! The newly installed water fountain at Washago Centennial Park, the Washago Rotary Club donated the funds that made this exciting new park feature possible. Our Service Chair, Darren White worked in partnership with the Township of Severn to bring the project to fruition.

Among the benefits of the

Head to Washago Centennial Park to play in the new Rotary water fountain. fountain, which includes scaring off geese, swimmers can enjoy cleaner water; the water is aerated which encourages fish activity (not fishy activity); and more water movement means bacteria has less opportunity to build up resulting in less days where the beach is closed.

Our small club is especially proud because we received a

community improvement grant from our local Rotary District.

This enabled us to double our contribution. Please check

our Facebook page to receive your official invitation to the ribbon cutting and celebration of this beautiful community installment.

If you are walking past Gavin’s Grub or Jax Bootery on Saturdays and see our big red canoe, stop in and buy a raffle ticket. For only $5 you have the chance to win a complete package: red Alchemist canoe, 2 life jackets and 2 paddles. The draw will be held Labour Day weekend. Thank-you to Chris McDermott from The Paddle Shack for his generously in donating this wonderful prize.

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Propane, faulty wiring and unattended cooking are causes of RV fires.

RV fire safety

By Dianne Kyle, Fire Prevention Officer, Severn Township Because RV camping most often takes place in an isolated area, and it takes only 20 to 30 seconds for fire to spread to the point where you need to escape, it’s easy to understand why fire safety and an RV escape plan are so crucial.

Propane, faulty wiring and cooking may cause fires and, therefore, means good fire safety includes working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers – and then add a good escape plan to your safety measures. This should include noting where there are two ways out of the RV. Test windows, hatches and door latches for smooth operation. Make sure all people who will be staying in the RV are well aware of the plan.

Propane often fuels RV fridges, furnaces, ovens and stove tops.

Check these lines regularly for leaks. If you smell propane inside your RV, check all your equipment carefully or call a service technician for assistance. Invest in a gas leak detector.

Fires caused by faulty wiring, from brittle or cracked wires, can be identified by the smell before flames break out. Always call 911 if you smell wires burning and make sure everyone who uses the RV knows where the electrical panel is and how to turn it off.

And unattended cooking, as in your home, is as hazardous in an RV. Ensure nothing is close to the stovetop that can ignite.

If you ever have to call 911, it is very important to know your exact location. This includes the address and lot number. If your camping area receives cell service, ensure your phone is always charged so that a call can always be made from your site.

Lastly, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms may not work after being stored for the winter. It is important to replace them before your RV season begins.

Fire prevention is key. Being prepared is a must. Getting out safely is most important.

23

Very sad announcement from Washago Lions The close knit Washago Lions Club family are very sad to announce the passing of their club president, Garnet Langille on July 9, 2017 at the age of 68. Garnet leaves behind his wife, Linda and their blended family of three children and seven grandchildren, extended family members, and many close friends.

Garnet was a lover of the

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outdoors and a very active member of the Washago community, recently taking on the role of president of Washago Lions. He was also a board member of the Washago Community Centre and a volunteer at Barrie Out of the Cold.

Donations to the Washago Lions Club in support of the many great community projects Lions undertakes would be what Garnet would have appreciated.

A celebration of Garnet’s life was held on Saturday, July 22 at the Washago Lions Hall.

Canada Day 150 celebrations presented by Washago Lions opened as scheduled at 8:00 a.m. on July 1st with our famous Annual Pancake Breakfast.

Thank-you to everyone who

came by to eat our delicious fluffy pancakes, bacon and sausage served with the special maple syrup and beverage. Over 400 breakfasts were served that morning with many complements to the staff.

We’re also grateful to everyone who participated in our afternoon festivities. It was an amazing day, especially with our 10 bands over 10 hours and our patio bar that served a great selection hot food.

We are now preparing for our next big event, the annual Octoberfest to be held on Saturday, October 14th, 2017.

We are holding this event at the Washago Community Centre rather than the Lions Hall because of overwhelming response to this event last year.

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26

August 1 – Dec. 31 The Spirit of Mariposa, an exhibition celebrating 150 years for Orillia & Canada. Exhibit explores the past and illuminates the future.

Orillia Museum of Art & History, 705-326-2159.

August 4-7 Orillia Lions and Rotary Clubs Annual Funfest. Features midway, entertainment and vendors. Great family event. Starts at noon on August 4th. Couchiching Beach Park, Orillia. Facebook Orillia Lions Club for more information.

August 5 Bandstand Revival: A tribute to our musical heritage. 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Couchiching Park, Bandstand. Musical prelude and tour. Calendar.orillia.ca.

August 5 Children’s Literacy Day. Celebrate 60 years of scholastic books featuring Clifford the Big Red Dog, Geronimo Stilton, Captain Underpants, the Magic School Bus, Goosebumps and more! Event is by donation.

Leacock Museum from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

August 11-13 Orillia Waterfront Festival. Fun for all ages. In-water boat show, cottage and outdoor products, artists, artisans, vendors, water ski shows and more. Cardboard boat race Sunday at noon. Port of Orillia & waterfront parks. Visit Orillia.com.

August 12 Steampunk Festival in the Village of Coldwater from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 100+ artisans, free shuttle and parking. Visit steampunkfestivalcoldwater.com for all details.

August 12 Mad Hatters Tea Party, BBQ lunch.

Live entertainment. Fun for All!!

Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum, coldwatermuseum.com.

August 12 Passport to Nature: History & Hike of Church Woods, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Learn the history of the 25-acre property in the heart of Shanty Bay. Old growth hardwoods and ferns. Guided tour. Visit couchichingconserv.ca for details.

August 19/20 Chippewas of Rama First Nation Powwow. Everyone is welcome!

Competition dancing & singing.

Food, craft, vendors. John Snake Memorial Grounds, 6030 Rama Rd. For all details visit www.facebook. com/RamaPowWow. August 19 19th Annual Downtown Orillia Classic Car Show, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. A dazzling collection of over 400 classic cars will line Orillia’s downtown streets. The largest car show in the region. Live entertainment, dining, shopping.

August 25-27 Orillia Rib Fest. Taste some of the best tasting ribs in the world! Live music/entertainment. Beer garden, kid zone, crafts and food vendors.

Tudhope Park, Orillia.

August 26 2nd Annual Local Food Festival.

Celebrate the abundance and diversity of food grown and produced in our own community. Tasting tour, cooking demonstrations, games, art and silent auction. Lots of food fun.

Downtown Orillia Farmer’s Market and the Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market. 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. www.orilliafoodcouncil.org.

August 26 Farm to Table Dinner, delectable outdoor dinner in downtown Orillia.

A special 5-course prix fixe menu inspired by farm fresh ingredients complete with wine and beer pairing. Downtown Orillia, 5:00 p.m.

– 9:00 p.m. Information and tickets: downtownorillia.ca.

August 26 Starry Night Studio & Gallery Tour.

Orillia’s downtown streets will close to traffic and the stars will shine in the galleries and studios of downtown Orillia. 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.

August 30 Heritage United Church, beef BBQ. 5:30 p.m. at the Washago Community Centre. $20/adult. Call 705-326-2791 for tickets.

All Your Summertime BBQ Needs!

Summer Means Fresh Ontario Produce!

Fresh Ontario Corn

Specializing in AAA Strip & Ribeye Steaks

Local mixed greens, fresh garlic and more.

Perfect for the Grill!

Freshly Pressed to each cup!

CANOE SCOOPS! Cones • Sundaes • Milkshakes

Experience our fabulous Canoe Scoops creations! The best of our baked goods along with your selection from our 24 flavours of delicious creamy ice cream.

LOCATED AT 3395 MUSKOKA STREET Across the street and a few steps over from Canoe Fresh Food Market & Bakery

Serving only our Premium Muskoka Roastery Coffee us on Espresso, Cappuccino, Latte, Shag Fog, Chai Tea Latte, Green Tea Latte Like for updates or Tea – all with fresh bakery item or lunch from our Deli and specials