From Summerto September… - theHumm September 2019

By John Pigeau

Summer is winding down. There’s a bit of a chill in the air in the evening, dew on the grass in the morning. It’s a crisp time of year, all cool breezes and comfy sweaters. But the mosquitoes are mostly gone, and the tourists too; the kids off to school with new shoes and new hopes. Down at the Perth Farmers’ Market, every basket is spilling over with the summer’s sweet-smelling harvest — and what better way to spend a brisk September Saturday morning in the pretty ol’ town than filling up on the freshest of fruit and garden greens, savoury pastries hot from the oven, and maybe a sweet and creamy melt-in-your-mouth maple pie.

Sarah MacKenzie, President of the Perth Farmers Market and a vendor with Hollyhock Grange, says: “September is the absolute height of vegetable season in Ontario and Perth is no exception. Almost every common veggie you can think of, as well as some that might be new to you, are ripe and have absorbed all of the heat from the summer to make sweet and flavourful food. That abundance means that jams, pickles and fermented foods are being created by farmers and producers too! The Market is also full of fun activities in September — including our Tomato Taste-Off and Chili Cook-Off — which both highlight an end-of-summer-favourite: the tomato.”

September sure can be sweet.

If you’re in the mood to enjoy a feel-good romantic comedy on the big screen, you’ll be happy to know that New in Town, starring Renée Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr., will be screening at the Studio Theatre on September 6. Tickets are $10 at the door, or $12 in advance at Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, or 485-6434). A nifty bit of trivia: parts of the film were shot in Selkirk and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Or perhaps you’d care for a walk? It’s a good time of year for it, and there’s a good reason too. The 3rdannual Lanark North Leeds Parkinson SuperWalk takes place at Perth’s Conlon Farm Recreation Complex on Saturday, September 7.

The SuperWalk is Parkinson Canada’s largest fundraising event. Last year’s local event raised almost $39,000, surpassing organizers’ expectations. There were over 100 participants, and the event is clearly gaining momentum locally. While raising money is important, organizers have said that building awareness of the need for improved access to medical and support services is even more important.

Each September, about 10,000 people in eighty communities across the country organize and take part in SuperWalks. Proceeds raised are used to fund research, increase services and support advocacy efforts on behalf of people with Parkinson’s Disease. Since 1990, walkers have raised more than $38 million to support a better life today for Canadians living with Parkinson’s.

There will be food, music, and children’s activities at this year’s walk at Conlon Farm. There will be a 2km and a 3km walking loop, and both will be wheelchair- and stroller-friendly. Participants are asked to bring their own water bottle. If you have not yet registered you can register in-person on walk day, or you can register online, where you can also make a donation: at donate.parkinson.ca . Registration is at 9:30am, and the walk begins, rain or shine, at 10:30am.

To learn more about this fun and inspirational day, you can contact Pat Evans at 272–3383. You can also visit donate.parkinson.ca to volunteer, download a pledge sheet, learn more about Parkinson’s Disease, and read personal stories about just a few of the everyday heroes who live with this disease, including Pat Evans, who lives in the area and is one of the main organizers of the Lanark North Leeds walk in Perth.

Pat was named 2018’s Superwalk National Hero by Parkinson Canada. She has created a new support group with the support of Parkinson Canada, and worked to establish exercise programs in the area. There is a three-minute video clip featuring Pat on the website, so you can see and hear a bit about her inspirational story, and how she believes the SuperWalk is an important community-building experience. You might just be moved to take part in the walk, to volunteer, or donate, or show up at Conlon Farm on Saturday the 7 to cheer on all the walkers.

In that same spirit, the annual Terry Fox Run will take place on Sunday, September 15, starting out at Conlon Farm. This is a non-competitive run with participants celebrating Terry’s legacy and raising money for cancer research in Terry’s name, while keeping alive his dream of finding a cure for cancer.

Registration starts at 8:45am on run day, with the starting time slated for 10:30am. Route distances include a 2.5-kilometre route, a five-kilometre and 10-kilometre walk/run. Participants can cycle or rollerblade, roll in a wheelchair, and push a stroller if they like. Dogs are welcome, too, but must be on a leash. The routes are accessible for all.

There will be a tasty barbecue following the run, and water stations set up during it. The day’s festivities also include a silent auction, face painting, a bouncy castle, and door prizes. For much more information about the run, please visit terryfox.org and click on “Terry Fox Run” to find the Perth site. You can also register to fundraise, download a pledge sheet, form or join a team of participants, or make a donation to the Terry Fox Foundation.

Neatly rounding out the month’s events are Culture Days at the Perth Museum, the weekend of September 27–29. There is some really neat stuff happening here, including the chance to make your own butter while watching tea biscuits being made in an outdoor bake oven — and then you get to enjoy a freshly made biscuit slathered in butter you’ve made yourself!

Author Hélène Jasmin will be there signing copies of her new book, Book of Days: A Journey with Elsie, and will also be showing some of Elsie Redford’s personal items. Textile artists will be demonstrating their skills, and, in partnership, Perth Museum and Perth & District Hall of Fame are working to bring Perth’s athletes to the Museum walls. The Museum will be open from 10am to 4pm on Friday, and from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday that weekend. Admission for all of this is absolutely free.

Happy last days of summer, everyone!

Monica Viola — The Sweet Music of Creativity - theHumm September 2019

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

The idea of a solo artist gallery is one of those challenging concepts that requires a very special combination of ingredients to produce a gourmet feast instead of an overdose of variations on the same theme.

At MonSky Creations Gallery, located in the heart of Merrickville’s blooming arts enclave, Monica Viola succeeds in serving up a delicious banquet of originality. Her eclectic art works are constantly displayed and refreshed as she continues her unfinished symphony of ......

From Summerto September… - theHumm September 2019