Articles list - theHumm July 2023

Tamara H. Campbell — Escape Artist - theHumm July 2023

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

Some artists describe it as “being in the flow.” It’s that “mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity” (Wikipedia). On the back of her Artist Trading Card on the next page, Tamara tells us WHY she paints: “I paint to feel good, to process my life, my emotions; some people meditate – I paint.”

We are the fortunate r......

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Fun in Augusta Street Park!
5 Wednesdays & Augustafest
- theHumm July 2023

By Violet Bova and Jeff Mills

Friends of Augusta Street Park community volunteers have come together to organize a great lineup for this year’s 5 Wednesdays in July concert series. Plans are also in place for the second annual Augustafest. Dates to mark in your calendar are July 5, 12, 19 and 26 for the 5 Wednesdays series (yeah, we know, only 4 this year, but see our ad in this month’s issue for the great line-up!) and August 26 from noon to 6pm for Augustafest.

5 Wednesdays in July and Augustafest are free, family-friendly,......

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Stewart Park Festival 2023
Matt Andersen, Stephen Fearing, Southern Avenue and Much More…
- theHumm July 2023

The Downtown Heritage Perth BIA and TD Canada Trust present the 31st Stewart Park Festival, taking place from July 14 to 16.

Celebrating over 30 years of community, the festival is a weekend of awesome music, great food and amazing vendors right in the heart of Perth. Only a 45-minute drive from Ottawa and an hour from Kingston, Perth is a small town with big charm, fantastic restaurants and downtown shops, and is a Designated Heritage site with plenty of aesthetic appeal.

Stewart ......

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Summer Exhibitsat the Textile Museum - theHumm July 2023

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM) has a full slate of exciting exhibits this summer! Did you know that the forest floor communicates via tree roots and fungi? Learn more while you explore Lorraine Roy’s wall hangings in Woven Woods: A Journey Through the Forest Floor, on display until July 22. This exhibition is accompanied by Greta Grip and Lee Jones’ Knit Markers: Collaborating with Machines; an interactive exhibit that explores the traces we leave behind, and how data is gathered. Leave your mark on their participatory artworks and watch as machines knit and unravel in respo......

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Mysteries of the Keyhole House - theHumm July 2023

By Kris Riendeau

This summer, Canada’s Grand Masters of Illusion, The Outerbridges, will premiere their new show Mysteries of the Keyhole House — a magical experience inspired by the heritage home they now inhabit in Smiths Falls. Well known in this area for their performances of Clockwork Mysteries at The Station Theatre, TikTok sensations Ted and Marion Outerbridge have also headlined at Hollywood’s Magic Castle, and garnered both the Award of Excellence from Ontario Contact and the Touring Artist of ......

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Get Your Con On at the First-Ever PuppetCon! - theHumm July 2023

With the début of PuppetCon by Puppets Up! just a month or so away, tickets are starting to be snatched up by folks looking for hands-on experience building and handling puppets — or sitting back and watching a show. While some fan favourites are returning, such as the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers, the first ever PuppetCon is really focused on building talent by providing workshops and sharing insights through panel discussions.

The organizers of PuppetCon set out to offer a little ......

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Be an Ally During Pride 2023 - theHumm July 2023

By Matthew Ayling

This year, more than many in recent memory, is a particularly important one for straight allies of the Two Spirited, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and + (2SLGBTQ+) community to be vocal in their support. At a time where rising homophobia and transphobia around the world is also manifesting in our own country, it is crucial for those in our community who have avoided engaging with these issues to educate themselves, make connections, and get involved in defending and supporting vulnerable people.

Several states south of the border have recently passed discriminatory legisl......

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STEM Program at Lanark County Libraries
LEGO Robotics Programs for Youth Coming this Summer
- theHumm July 2023

Thanks to a generous donation from the Elizabeth Kelly Foundation, libraries throughout Lanark County — including Carleton Place, Lanark Highlands, Mississippi Mills, Perth and Smiths Falls — announce free LEGO robotics STEM summer programs for youth aged 8–17. STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are essential for the next generation of innovators. Fun and accessible programs such as LEGO robotics are very popular and give youth the confidence to expand their skil......

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A Timeless Gatheringat Middleville Museum - theHumm July 2023

Live History is an internationally touring site-specific escape room theatre company that has been nominated for the Governor General’s award for History and Community Theatre. On Saturday, July 15, they will present two showing of their “immersive theatrical escape room experience” (at 1pm and 3pm) at the Middleville Museum. Tickets are only $20 each, and are available from middlevillemuseum.org .

It was supposed to be a......

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Summer Book Salefor the Perth Library - theHumm July 2023

The Friends of the Perth & District Union Public Library are hosting their Summer Book Sale on Saturday, July 22. It will be held in the Library Garden, under the eaves, from 9am to 3pm. This is a great opportunity to browse through an incredible assortment of fiction books for adults, young adults and children. Bring your own bag and do your best to fill it! The cost of books is by donation, with all proceeds going to support the library.

Donated books will be accepted for th......

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a Company of Fools Presents Hamlet - theHumm July 2023

From July 3 to August 26, a Company of Fools is tackling Shakespeare’s most iconic play! Opening this July, they are presenting Hamlet on an eight-week tour of over forty parks across Ottawa and beyond.

Their fast-paced 90-minute rendition of the Bard’s greatest tragedy will feature disemboweled puppets, a sword fight to the death, live underscoring, and 5 actors taking on 15 different roles.

Join the Fools this summer as they delve into the depths of the human experience and have......

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2023 MERA Awardof Excellence - theHumm July 2023

By — Helen Mogford and Alexis Scott

There is a first time for everything! Heidi Earnshaw and Elise Abrams-Ogg are recognized as co-winners of the 2023 MERA Award of Excellence in Fine Art and Fine Craft.

“It is a pleasure to see so many high-quality submissions coming from our MERA community,” wrote juror Suzette MacSkimming. The submissions this year were of such high quality that members of the three-person jury decided that two applicants were equally deserving of the winning title. Furniture designer and maker H......

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10-Minute Plays
Boundless Fun in Bite-Size Form
- theHumm July 2023

By Karine Charland

Whether you are an aficionado or a stranger to theatre, a devout thespian or a sceptical patron, Kanata Theatre’s annual 10-minute play festival will cater to everyone’s tastes. Featuring seven new plays by local playwrights, the variety of styles and themes will leave you laughing, gasping, wondering, cheering, pondering, and at times even crying.

The festival runs on July 28 and 29, offering a splash of comedy with a hint of drama. In Do Not Resuscitate, there is there something fishy at......

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James Doran — 30 Years of Choosing the Blues - theHumm July 2023

After 30 years of being in the blues promotion business in Canada, James Doran announced that his Choose the Blues Productions has closed its doors. The final “Blues on the Rideau” show at The Cove Inn in Westport, Ontario took place on June 2, 2023. Over the decades James has produced three major blues festivals including Tremblant and Smiths Falls, spent six years on-air with his “Inside the Blues” radio show on DAWG FM in Ottawa, and pre......

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Bridge St. Summerfest! - theHumm July 2023

Summerfest, the iconic summer market festival, returns to downtown Carleton Place on July 29 from 10am to 3pm. Over half a kilometre of the newly renovated Bridge Street streetscape will be filled with fabulous live entertainers and a juried selection of vendors. Spend the day exploring artisans, makers, crafters, vintage & thrift resellers, pop-ups and the Town’s own local businesses.

Downtown Carleton Place is so excited to host this incredible event after a three-year hiatus......

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Celebrate 20 Years of Conservation with MMLT and Lake 88! - theHumm July 2023

By Submitted the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust

Mark your calendars! On Saturday, July 15 at 8am, Lake 88.1 FM will broadcast a one-hour Radiothon to benefit the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) on its “All About the House” program.

It’s an exciting year for MMLT — our 20th anniversary — and to celebrate, this year’s Radiothon will feature interviews from a few founding members of the land trust. You will hear fascinating stories from Howard Clifford, Mary Vandenhoff and Donna Davidson, as well as from Emily Giles, current MMLT directo......

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Three New Shows at Sivarulrasa Gallery   - theHumm July 2023

Almonte’s Sivarulrasa Gallery will present three new exhibitions in July. William Liao: City Limits, featuring new paintings by Vancouver-based artist William Liao, will run in Gallery III from June 30 to August 4. In this new body of work, the artist explores the chaos and beauty of urban life, capturing the energy and excitement of the city while also revealing its hidden charms and unexpected moments of stillness. “I hope to invite viewers to see the city in a ne......

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HerbFest — a Celebration of Healthy Living - theHumm July 2023

HerbFest 2023 kicks off at 9am on Sunday, July 30 on the beautiful grounds of the historic Waba Cottage Museum and Gardens. With more vendors and exciting new workshops this year, organizers expect to surpass last year’s 2,000 visitors.

This celebration of healthy living offers a unique shopping experience in the vendor market, bringing in fantastic local artisans, farms and delicious food from all over Ottawa and the Valley. Live music, interactive workshops and demonstrations, tours and a ch......

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PICNIC in Smiths Falls! - theHumm July 2023

Smiths Falls’ fourth annual PICNIC program is officially open, featuring nine restaurants, with more expected to join as the summer unfolds.

Initially introduced in the summer of 2020 to support local restaurants and provide a safe takeout option during the pandemic, the award-winning PICNIC program has not only fulfilled its purpose over the last few years but has also gained popularity among restaurants, residents and visitors beyond the restrictions imposed by the pandemic.

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Bloomfest Garden Art Show and Sale - theHumm July 2023

By Suzanne Patry

Mark your calendar for the third week of July when the display gardens and daylily field at Whitehouse Perennials are in full bloom. This is the fifth Bloomfest Garden Art Show, and the number of participating artists has grown to twenty-one. Every day beginning on July 22, the work of the artists will be installed throughout the three display gardens and the daylily field — a perfect venue to showcase garden art. It will remain in place until the show closes on July 30.

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What the Hill?? - theHumm July 2023

By David Hinks

The noun “hill” is encountered fairly frequently in instructions for growing vegetables, as in plant squash, pumpkins or corn in hills. I checked some of my gardening books gathering dust on the shelf and did a few searches with Dr. Google, and ended up perhaps a bit more enlightened and perhaps a bit more confused.

Certainly, recipes can be found for creating mounds for planting squash and pumpkins. These generally involve the digging of a hole a foot or so deep, the filling of that hol......

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Kindness is Everything - theHumm July 2023

Something beautiful is in the air. Twelve incredibly talented, loving, and beautiful artists are collaborating in a group art exhibition called Kindness is Everything at the Art Factory in Renfrew. The quality, depth and variety of the artworks being shown will certainly captivate your imagination.

Beautiful hearts do beautiful things. The artists have collectively decided that they will each donate a HEARTwork to the Bernadette McCann House. “Survivors of domestic violence ......

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Small but Mighty
Join the Carleton Place Water Dragons!
- theHumm July 2023

By Bridget Flynn 

Does your child love to swim but get bored waiting their turn at swimming lessons? Are you looking for a low-impact cardio workout that will also help keep you toned? Join the award-winning Carleton Place Water Dragons Swim Team! We have programs for all ages and abilities with both competitive and non-competitive options.

We are a non-profit club with over 25 years in the community. Our staff of certified coaches and our volunteer Board of Directors work hard to ensure that we foster and te......

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Opening Soon in Carleton Place… - theHumm July 2023

Four local artists — Colleen Gray, Ginny Fobert, Gillian Marston and Pamela Stewart — are busily working to bring a new art gallery to life in downtown Carleton Place. Located at 210 Bridge Street (right on the Mississippi River), the Carleton Place Gallery will feature work by approximately twenty regional artists and artisans from diverse backgrounds on a rotating basis. It will provide them with affordable and accessible gallery, studio, workshop and meeting space, and help them to sell......

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A Very Special Teddy Bear Picnic
Photographer’s Initiative Supports CHEO
- theHumm July 2023

Stephanie de Montigny, owner of Pure Natural Portraits, has put together an exciting event for a great cause. The inaugural Teddy Bear Picnic “Portraits in the Park” fundraiser will be held on July 9 at Almonte’s picturesque Gemmill Park, where children can enjoy a delightful day out with their favourite stuffed animals while supporting the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). All proceeds from the registration fee will be donated to CHEO to aid in their invaluable work of providin......

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Merrickville Festivalof the Arts - theHumm July 2023

The community of Merrickville-Wolford is delighted to host the third Merrickville Festival of the Arts on July 29 and 30. It will take place at the beautiful Blockhouse Park on the banks of the Rideau River adjacent to the historic Rideau Canal locks. This is a collaborative effort involving the Merrickville Organization for Culture & the Arts(MOCA), the Merrickville Arts Guild (MAG) and Theatre Night in Merrickville(TNIM. This year they have added a number of exciting new musical perform......

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MERA’s Makers Market
Artisans, Live Music, Food and More
- theHumm July 2023

The MERA Makers Market and Café is being held on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm throughout the summer. Enjoy the best of local arts in a charming rural setting. Featuring crafts, music, great food, refreshments and more, it’s a great way to connect to the community and enjoy unique locally made goods.

Come out for great music this month featuring: Melwood Cutlery (July 1), The Two Michaels (July 8), Ali McCormick (July 15), TRXTRS (July 22) and Long Sault Trio (July 29).

MERA is located at 9......

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Voices Risefrom the Ashes - theHumm July 2023

The world is in a time of growth and change. The Valley Voices are using the ashes of the last few years as a place to grow from. Building on 20 years of singing, the Valley Voices are growing again. Almonte’s community choir is opening auditions for their 2023 fall/winter season soon, and invite everyone to come give it a try.

The Valley Voices are a mixed choir led by Becky Goodwin. Becky has a BA Honours, with a focus on choral directing. She has taught vocal lessons priva......

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“Your Presence is Our Present” - theHumm July 2023

By Glenda Jones

Whoo hoo! A birthday party! Invite as many kids as you can, because each one is bringing something in fancy paper just for you. If it’s in a big box, so much the better. None of those squishy things that likely are clothes, but something in the shape of a book would be all right. Paper is shredded, and it’s all fun and games. On party day there’s no thought of all the thank you notes to be written, or where on earth all this stuff is getting stored.

This is big birthday month is our house — three of us within a week of each other — and we learned early on that a one-day party was ple......

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Mill Street Books Hosts Where’s Waldo Event - theHumm July 2023

Few children’s book characters are as immediately recognizable as Waldo. His signature red-and-white-striped shirt and black glasses are known to people ages six to sixty, and with over seventy-eight million books in print worldwide, he’s been delighting eagle-eyed readers around the globe for more than thirty years. This popularity makes Waldo the perfect ambassador for one of the earliest and longest-running Shop Local campaigns, Find Waldo Local.

Since 2012, children’s book publisher Cand......

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Heat Pumps & Conservation Win the Day!
Neighbours Help Neighbours Reduce Dependence on Fossil Fuels
- theHumm July 2023

By Chandler Swain

After last month’s CNL column about the value of electric heat pumps as a response to our need to get off oil, natural gas, and propane for home heating, we wanted to add more information to help people make the change.

This is such a big story because of the profound way it can lower the carbon and methane pollution created by running our homes, and get community, technical and financial support to do it.

A new project is being launched by Climate Network Lanark: one where neighbours ......

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Arlie’s Books Celebrates 42 Years in Smiths Falls - theHumm July 2023

By John Pigeau

A good day at Arlie’s Books isn’t measured by how much money is in the till at closing time.

No, a good day in this beloved bookstore — which is now, impressively, celebrating its 42nd year in business in Smiths Falls — is “obviously one that pays the bills but it’s much, much more” than that, says owner Kerri Edwards.

“My favourite days or times are when you have a customer who is completely blown away by something they’ve found in the store,” Kerri says. “I love the times wher......

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Introducing ArtPontiac and Portage-du-Fort - theHumm July 2023

Looking for a new destination for art and culture? Tucked away in the little hamlet of Portage-du-Fort, Quebec, overlooking the majestic Ottawa River, is an art gallery and gift shop that’s a perfect destination for summer daytripping. The area itself is steeped in history, on the banks of the river that was the main means of travel for Indigenous people and fur traders. A thriving logging and trading centre, Portage suffered the loss of many of its wooden buildings in the catastrophic......

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Art Classes all Summer Long at Art & Class in Perth!
- theHumm July 2023

2023 marks the 13th summer that Art & Class is offering art lessons to kids — and adults too — in their very flexible program. They offer single classes, twice daily, and feature different me......

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