The following Articles and Images have been added to the database
Back in 2016, Taisha Lesser moved back to her hometown of Perth with her newly-minted Master’s degree and opened The Music Circle — offering piano and voice lessons in her home studio. That studio grew rapidly, and in 2018 Taisha purchased Arts in Motion Perth School of Dance and changed her company name to Omnes Arts Circle (pronounced Omm-ness, meaning “all” in Latin). Omnes now offers classes in music, dance, theatre, and visual arts, and has thankfully weathered the pandemic! theHumm caught up with Taisha to find out about her plans for this fall.
theHumm: Let’s start by looking forward. What types of classes are you offering this fall, and are you able to return to an in-person format?
Taisha Lesser: We’re so excited to be returning to in-person classes this fall, and we’ve even added some new programs! Some of our exciting new additions are Tap, Acro, and Parent & Tot dance classes, weekly Craft Club, and various workshops for all ages (even adults!) throughout the year. Our PA Day Camps, March Break Camp, and Summer Camps are returning this year too.
We’re following the ever-changing Covid protocols very closely, and most of our programs are available in an online format for those who feel more comfortable.
How did you and your staff manage during the lockdown? Were you able to “pivot” and offer online lessons?
During the lockdowns, we moved all of our programming online. We offered dance classes live on Zoom, which was a huge mental and emotional boost for our students and teachers alike. Music lessons also moved to Zoom, and one of the perks was being able to focus on aspects we don’t always get to focus on in person. Some of the highlights of our last year were the year-end outdoor dance show recording, and our virtual music recitals.
What kind of response and support have you had from the Perth community during the pandemic?
The Perth community, along with our Omnes family, has been incredibly supportive throughout the pandemic. While it was a very challenging year, it was also very rewarding. I am forever grateful to the families that were able to stick with us during this time, and can’t wait to see the ones who had to take a break back with us this year!
After months of lockdown and online-only learning, why is it more important than ever to engage young people in artistic activities?
The last year-and-a-half has wreaked havoc on the mental health of so many people, and now more than ever we need to return to activities like the arts. There is an increasing amount of research showing us that participating in the arts is linked to mental and emotional well-being, and it offers a safe space to rekindle those social connections that we’ve all been missing.
What are you most looking forward to when students return this fall?
I can’t wait to see the SMILES, even if they’re behind masks! We truly are a family here at Omnes, and we’ve all been missing each other so much. When students walk in our door grinning ear-to-ear with excitement for the new season, it warms our hearts and makes all the hardships of the last year-and-a-half worth it. We all can’t wait to move forward and continue making memories with our students!
For more information and to register for a wide variety of classes, visit <omnesartscircle.ca>.
This year is the ninth time that Home Hospice North Lanark (HHNL) is participating in the annual Hike for Hospice. This is part of a national initiative organized by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, with 100% of all funds raised staying in the community in which the Hike is hosted, thanks to the generous support of GSK and Amgen.
In the past, HHNL hosted a Hike to raise funds for HHNL at the beautiful Mill of Kintail in May. Last year that wasn’t possible, so organizers decided to host a virtual hike for the entire month of October, and it was the most successful Hike ever! The virtual hike is taking place again this October, and participants will be given a red silicone bracelet to identify that they care. People will be able to complete their personal hike any time in the month. Gather a team! Challenge your coworkers, church group, family, friends or sports team! Help reach the fundraising goal of $25,000.
Registration takes place online at <hhnl.ca/hike>, or participants can make arrangements to pick up a registration form by emailing <hike@hhnl.ca> or calling 256–5375. Once you’re registered you can pick up your new bracelet and start hiking! You decide where and when to complete your personal hike; and how far you are going to go (a minimum of 1K is recommended). You can do it in one day or spread it out over the whole month. Set a goal for yourself or your team!
You may also choose to hike in memory of someone special. To encourage a feeling of community, you are encouraged to send a photo of your loved one to <hike@hhnl.ca> so it can be posted on the HHNL Facebook page; add a little story if you like. While you’re hiking, snap some pictures of the views you see, of your kids, your adorable pet… and send those along too.
You can simply hike around your town—perhaps with your family, friends or fur baby. How about hiking at one of our many beautiful local trails, such as The Mill of Kintail, High Lonesome Nature Reserve (Pakenham), cliffLAND (Blueberry Mountain near Lanark), the Poole Family Nature Sanctuary (Carleton Place), or the Ottawa Valley Rail Trail? You can even walk on a treadmill or in or around your home! Please remember to follow current guidelines to keep yourself and others safe. There will be prizes for most money raised, cutest pet, and the biggest team.
Money raised through the Hike provides emotional and social assistance to clients, their families and loved ones. Home Hospice North Lanark is one of the many hospice organizations working toward ensuring that more Canadians, especially in our own community, receive their desired end-of-life care.
To support or participate in Hike for Hospice Palliative Care, or for more information, please email <hike@hhnl.ca> or visit <hhnl.ca>.
Age-Friendly North Lanark wants to share the good news about the incredible seniors of our area. The 31,990 people aged 65-plus make up 22% of Lanark County’s total population but are often perceived as clients in need rather than the good citizens they are — sharing their gifts and making our communities the special places we cherish. Add in those aged 55+ and the percentage is just shy of 40%.
“Dispatches from an Age-Friendly Community” is an appreciative advocacy project shining a light on our elders, their contribution, and their value. In the words of Cormac Russell, we want to concentrate on “What’s strong, not what’s wrong.” We’ll be sharing articles, social media posts, short videos and newspaper articles under the banner of “Dispatches from an Age-Friendly Community” on a regular basis with the hope that you and your elders will help us tell this good news. Through storytelling, Age-Friendly North Lanark hopes to encourage our communities to be the best they possibly can for the older folks among us.
The World Health Organization created the Age-Friendly Communities program to help communities view healthy development first through a seniors’ lens and then from the perspective of all. The idea is that if what we do works for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, it will work for all. “Essential for some is Good for all.” Imagine if all politicians — municipal, county, provincial, and federal — used this framework before making decisions!
The eight components of an age-friendly community are:
Transportation
Housing
Social Participation
Respect and Social Inclusion
Civic Participation and Employment
Communication and Information
Community Support and Health Services
Outdoor Spaces and Public Buildings
We’ve just had a federal election, there’s talk of one to come provincially, and here in Mississippi Mills there will be a new council elected in the fall of 2022. Raising the profile of our elders will help to change the dialogue and build better lives for all.
Want to help? Are you a storyteller, writer, journalist, artist, poet, painter, teacher, musician, comedian, grandchild, grandparent, etc.? All appreciative content is welcome. To learn how you can participate, join us on a Zoom call on Monday, October 4 at 7pm. To register for the call, or if you can’t make the call but would like to participate, please contact Jay Young at 451–5397 or <jyoung@carebridge.ca>.
With their first season of business coming to a close in the fall, the new owners of Ecotay are still extremely excited — about all that’s happened, and also about what’s to come.
The new owners of the beautiful refurbished barns in Tay Valley are Natasha Lackey, her husband Justin, and Natasha’s cousin Susan Noonan. For Natasha and Justin, being able to buy the place back in June when it came up for sale felt a bit like a fairy tale.
“Not only did Sarah and I grow up just around the corner, but Justin and I were the first couple to be married at Ecotay in 2011,” Natasha says. “We both took hospitality in school so we half-jokingly told Michael and Annie (the previous owners) that if they ever wanted to sell, let us know! Sadly, Michael passed away a couple years ago, and when it came time for the family to sell the property, there was an opportunity given to us that we had to pursue. With the support of our families, we have worked very hard to make that a reality. It certainly has been a whirlwind year, but we are so honoured to be able to carry on the vision of Ecotay!”
The three new owners took possession of the property in late June, and their Grand Opening in August was a huge success, attracting over 600 people to the gorgeously landscaped property.
“It really is like a fairy tale in many ways,” adds Natasha, “and I think we all have days where we have to stop and pinch ourselves to make sure this is real. The adventure so far has been extremely exciting and extremely busy! We really hit the ground running while still working full-time jobs so right now we are all fueled by adrenaline, but when the colder weather comes and the dust settles, so to speak, we will be able to truly sit back and wrap our heads around this new chapter of our lives.”
The trio of new owners spent the first six weeks giving the property a lot of tender loving care, Natasha says.
“Justin in particular brought the event space back to life, as it had been almost two years since the last event took place there in the summer of 2019. Once we were ready to welcome the public, we decided a Sunday market would be the perfect way to start. After the last year-and-a-half, we ourselves were craving social connection and now we had a massive outdoor space to share with the community. Add hot food off the BBQ, talented musicians to listen to, local vendors to shop from, and we had a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.”
Plenty of people from Perth — and all around — felt so too, and the space was a whirlwind of activity and joy.
“The first market, which was our Grand Opening, met and exceeded our expectations,” Natasha enthuses. “The amount of support we received from our family, friends, and community was overwhelming. Now that we have done the market for six weeks the recurring feedback is about the ambience of the space; it really is a calming environment. It gives you that feel-good vibe and everyone who comes seems to leave with a huge smile on their face! We couldn’t ask for anything more!”
If you missed out on the Grand Opening or the Sunday Markets that followed, you can still get in on the fun in October, as there are a few events planned.
“We have our last regular Sunday Market happening on October 3 from 9am to 2pm,” explains Natasha. “On the Thanksgiving weekend, we have our Harvest Market happening on Sunday, October 10 from 10am to 4pm, and then we have our Christmas Market on Sunday, November 14 from 10am to 4pm. As for events further into the winter, we have a few ideas up our sleeves such as small workshops inside our semi-heated barn. Justin is also working hard to create trails that could be used for cross-country skiing.”
The best way to find out what’s happening at Ecotay in the coming months is to follow them on Instagram or Facebook, where they regularly post photos and details on events to come.
The description of Ecotay on Facebook is particularly good too: “A unique, rural gathering space set amongst a series of beautifully restored barns, rail fences and terraced landscapes, surrounded by pristine fields and hedgerows.” The barns have also been described as rustic chic. Anyone who’s been there will tell you that the property has a truly magical, timeless feel.
So, what’s to come next year and down the road? A whole lot, promises Natasha.
“Our main focus for next year will be weddings, elopements, private events, and our Sunday Markets which will happen every long weekend from May until October. We also have a long list of ideas to try out, and the space offers endless possibilities, so for now we are taking in all ideas to see what works. We have already started booking up and so far in the calendar we have weddings, photoshoots, family reunions, birthday parties, anniversary parties, staff appreciation events, team building events, and workshops. We are so excited for them all!”
One of the best places in Lanark County to witness a panoramic view of fall colours is from the top of Blueberry Mountain at cliffLAND. This singularly beautiful display of nature remains central to the upcoming Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) event on Sunday, October 3. This is a special fundraising day to learn more about and help support MMLT’s conservation work. Come and hike the gently rising trail at your own time and pace and enjoy one of the Seven Wonders of Lanark County. Ecologists will be on-site throughout the day to answer any questions you may have.
The Fall Colours Walk has been an MMLT tradition for 13 years, and organizers thank the Clifford family for sharing their wonderful property with the public!
The local community will also be hosting a BBQ and a market on October 3 at the Joe’s Lake Baseball Field from 12–2pm, and Blueberry Mountain visitors are welcome to head on over to grab a bite or do a little shopping to support the community!
Members-Only Geology Tour
Follow MMLT president and hydrogeologist Bob Betcher in this special MMLT members-only geology tour of Blueberry Mountain at cliffLAND and the Joe’s Lake area. Join a small group of individuals as they go off the beaten trail to learn about plate tectonics and view rock exposures, including a major fault line separating two distinct geological regions. Walk with Bob while exploring the forest, stream beds and rocks… all the way to the top of Blueberry Mountain! There is no need for a background in geology to enjoy this learning experience.
The walk starts Sunday, October 3 at 10am near Joe’s Lake and will end atop Blueberry Mountain at around 2pm. Additional details will be provided to participants via email several days prior to the walk. Be sure to bring a lunch and carpool if you can.
Registration is free but limited, so be sure to claim one of the remaining places today. Register now at <mmlt.ca/events>. Please note that participants will be asked to confirm that they have been double vaccinated. Masks will be required at stops.
The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust strives to keep the Mississippi-Madawaska wilderness protected for all time, where all species thrive and people connect with nature. Learn more at <mmlt.ca>.
The Mississippi Valley Field Naturalists will continue their series of Zoom nature talks on the theme of “Human Interactions with the Natural World”.
Humans interact with the environment through use of resources and production of wastes. As the global population continues to grow, so does our impact on the environment. Advances in science and technology have helped us to exploit the environment, but in the process we have destabilized long-standing ecological balances.
Our talk on October 21 will feature Dr. Cindy Chu, a research scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Dr. Chu is an ecologist who studies fish biodiversity and the impacts of human activities and climate change on freshwater fish and their habitats, in an effort to conserve biodiversity and manage resources for generations to come.
Freshwater fish are culturally, ecologically and economically important to the people of Ontario, and the province has the most species in all of Canada. This biodiversity is the result of Ontario’s climate, its wet landscape, and the retreat of the glaciers after the last ice age. Fish and their habitats can be impacted by human activities on land and in water such as forest harvesting or recreational fishing, but being cold-blooded, fish are particularly sensitive to changes in the temperatures of lakes, rivers and wetlands that can result from climate change. Cindy’s talk will be a tour of Ontario’s rich biodiversity, how fish are studied, and the effects climate change is having on them locally and globally. She will also discuss activities that can be taken to reduce climate change effects on fish and their habitats.
This talk is open to all MVFN members in good standing, so visit <mvfn.ca> to make sure your membership is up-to-date prior to the meeting. The meeting will begin with an informative discussion of members’ nature sightings, led by Ken Allison.
The Ron Caron Auditorium in Almonte Old Town Hall is set to come alive again with the sound of music! After cancelling its 2020-21 season because of the pandemic, Almonte in Concert returns for its 41st season.
The series opens on a light note on October 30, with clarinetist Christopher Hall and the nationally renowned string quartet Quatuor Andara. Hall is well known for delighting audiences both with beautiful music and injections of humour, and this irresistible group of musicians will fill your ears and heart with joie de vivre and brilliant music-making! Between each work on the programme, the clarinetist transforms into a stand-up comic and pokes good fun at the musicians, the music, and especially at all the familiar but sometimes stuffy rituals that can come with classical music performances. He reminds us that this music is for everyone and does not require a PhD to be enjoyed. On the programme are works by Mozart, Brahms and Weber.
Our annual Christmas concert is always an enchanting way to usher in the festive season, and this year, on December 4, the Montréal Guitare Trio (MG3) performs for the occasion. Described by the CBC as the “hottest” guitar ensemble in Canada, with their interactive and highly varied performances MG3 has developed into a musical force to be reckoned with. The trio’s bravura, discipline and brilliant stage presence combined with seamlessly flowing humour and audience interaction have won over an international public for more than twenty years. Members Marc Morin, Glenn Lévesque and Sébastien Dufour have performed hundreds of concerts in many of the most prestigious venues in North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. With their unique, ingenious and unbeatable touch, these three highly accomplished guitarists bring us some of the best music to celebrate Christmas: The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky), The Nightmare Before Christmas (Danny Elfman), A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi), and other holiday favourites!
On January 16, internationally acclaimed soprano — and new Almonte resident — Mireille Asselin, along with her long-time collaborator Frédéric Lacroix at the piano and special guest violinist/violist Brenna Hardy-Kavanagh, perform a concert titled On Love, Loss, and Remembrance. Dedicated to the memory of Michael Macpherson, a beloved community member and ardent supporter of Almonte in Concert, the performance will feature works by Handel, Massenet, and Cecilia Livingston, as well as new arrangements of classic folk favourites and the world premiere of a work by the eminent Canadian composer and conductor Mark Sirett. Join us for this special concert of remembrance and celebration through song.
On March 5, we welcome back Cheng2 Duo, the phenomenal brother-and-sister duo of Bryan (cello) and Silvie (piano) Cheng. They take us on a fascinating and romantic musical journey featuring works by Beethoven, Britten, Brahms and Hindemith. Since their début at Carnegie Hall in 2011, Cheng2 Duo has never ceased to garner praise from both audiences and critics for their artistic excellence, generous spirit and irresistible energy. This duo’s refreshing approach to making classical music accessible to new audiences of all backgrounds strikes a rare balance between infectious joy and enthusiasm in their playing and experienced, historically informed, profound interpretations.
We are thrilled to announce that, to conclude our season on April 2, we have succeeded in rescheduling a performance by Canada’s Ladom Ensemble, originally slated for April 2020. The music of this unconventional quartet made up of Pouya Hamidi (piano), Michael Bridge (accordion), Beth Silver (cello) and Adam Campbell (percussion) features original compositions, the ensemble’s own adaptations of world music from Iran, the Balkans, Argentina and elsewhere, and their own twist on well-known classical masterworks. A fresh, astonishing concert that is sure to delight!
Since in-person attendance must be limited, concerts will also be live-streamed. Ticket information will be available shortly at <almonteinconcert.com>. Please note that patrons purchasing tickets to attend in person will be required to show proof of full double vaccination (the second dose having been administered at least 14 days prior to the concert date), along with government-issued ID before they enter the concert venue.
Back in 2014, a friendly competition between Mississippi Mills and Carleton Place/Beckwith resulted in 2,860 pounds of fresh produce being donated to the Lanark County Food Bank. Since then, the Great Veggie Grow-Off (GVGO) has expanded to include the communities of Perth, Drummond/North Elmsley, Tay Valley, Lanark Highlands and Smiths Falls, and in 2020 a staggering 16,541 pounds of food were grown and donated to area food banks. This year, organizers are hoping to break previous records, and everyone except the residents of Drummond/North Elmsley is hoping for a new winner!
Of course, the real winners of the GVGO are the area food banks, as they are the happy recipients of fresh and nutritious local produce. This is food that has been grown with care, donated with love and transported as short a distance as possible — a true win-win-win situation.
Saturday, October 16 marks the final weigh-in day for GVGO 2021, so organizers are hoping that growers will make a last-ditch effort to drop produce off in time for it to be counted towards this year’s totals. Share what you’ve grown, and let’s see if we can break the 17,000-pound mark! Donations can be dropped off at The Hunger Stop in Carleton Place, The Lanark Highlands Food Pantry in Lanark Village, The Table in Perth, or the Smiths Falls Community Food Bank.
There will also be a final weigh-in and short ceremony at the Neighbourhood Tomato Community Farm Wood Fired Oven at the Almonte Library at 10:30am on October 16 (which is also the date for the Warden’s Slow Roll for the United Way along the trail from Almonte to Pakenham — register at lanarkcounty.ca). For more information about the Great Veggie Grow-Off, visit the Neighbourhood Tomato Community Farm’s Facebook page or contact Jeff Mills at <jmills@carebridge.ca> or 256–1031 x263.
Although the official Harvest Festival took place at the Carleton Place Farmers’ Market on September 18, there will still be still lots of delicious produce available until their closing weekend. The current plan is for closing day to take place on October 9, but pending weather and produce availability they may extend the market until the 16th, so check their Facebook page for up-to-the-minute details. There will also be special artisan days on October 2 and 9, with some new vendors participating.
Thanks to sunny skies and warm weather, a great day was had by all who attended the Harvest Festival. The event featured an animal exhibit, farm machinery display, a kids’ scavenger hunt, sheep shearing and several contests. After the judging was completed, the rest of the entries were sold off by donation to Lanark County Interval House and Roofless Ventures. The winners of each contest and the scavenger hunt were:
Chili: Josh Eyamie (1st), Elaine Bowes (2nd), Boulton House Restaurant (3rd)
Apple Pie: Linda McKee (1st), Path Back Farms (2nd), Sydney Eyamie and Jannie (3rd)
Salsa: Nina Jones (1st), Pretty Yellow House (2nd), Grace and Jessie (3rd)
Thanks to judges Joanne Henderson, Julie Saddler and Linda Seccaspina.
The kids’ scavenger hunt was won by Grace Dube, the biggest beet was grown by Path Back Farms, the biggest zucchini by Stonepile Farm, and the biggest pumpkin by Pair-A-Gardens.
The Carleton Place Farmers’ Market is located at 7 Beckwith Street at the corner of Lake Avenue, and you can find more information about them on their Facebook page.
From October 2 to December 18, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum is excited to welcome guest curator Miranda Bouchard and new tapestry work by renowned textile artists Penny Berens and Judy Martin.
The naturally dyed, slow-stitched textile works of these two artists inspire ways of seeing, sensing and reflection that are simultaneously outwards, at our surroundings; and inwards, at the landscapes within us.
Martin and Berens render time visible and touch tangible through the hand-stitched marks that accrue, map-like, across the surfaces of layered fabrics, forming worlds within their works. Martin explores inner immensity, recording and reflecting upon the mutable nature of emotions, thoughts and dreams. Berens looks outwards at and to nature, creating work informed by experiences with and within her ever-changing environment. In the Middle of the World ushers audiences into the liminal space between earth and air, ground and sky, mind and body, knowing and sensing, static and shift. The earth provides material and metaphor; the world is Mother and muse, subject and symbol. It is central to the artists’ ways of seeing, making and understanding.
Stirred by and searching for both meaning and feeling, the artists commune with and convey the gravity of vulnerability, bravery and humility. These works of stitch, natural fibre and plant-based colour speak of the intimacy of human connection that many are seeking out and leaning into amidst these turbulent, socially-distanced and tech-driven times; of connections to tradition and the environment, and the urgency to renew them before it’s too late; and of the importance of knowing and accepting one’s location in the world.
The Textile Museum is located at 3 Rosamond Street E. in Almonte. You can find details on this and other exhibits and events at <mvtm.ca>.
Art… and Soul
He’s not a secret agent, but Keith Busher knows how to use his unconventional art to elicit an emotional response. Ideally, he hopes to cause you to explore your reactions to some of his more disturbing pieces. As an artist, he explores his other side as well, producing beautiful abstracts in completely unorthodox ways, and writing oddly original poetry to encourage youth through the perils of surviving their teens.
Busher has burst onto the largely traditional arts scene in Perth with his newly opened art gallery at Code’s Mill. His primary goal is to offer a safe venue for emerging artists to present their works to the public. Eclectic is too mild a word to adequately describe both his own work, and the works of the artists he is presenting. A click on “About” at <concavegallery.com> instantly reveals what I mean. The text says, “Concave Gallery is a space for exceptional, unconventional artists looking for an avenue to express themselves.” And the image is wonderfully, unabashedly Keith. His featured sculpture is titled “Tongue-tied,” but it speaks volumes.
Busher’s own diversified artworks confirm his quirky creativity, his outrageous sense of humour, his enjoyment of the absurd, his willingness to shock, and his appreciation of the power of art as an emotional catalyst. As a new gallery owner he is discovering that unsuspecting visitors quickly divide into two categories: one furtive peek and they’re gone, or oh goody — this is really cool stuff! The latter spend hours and almost never leave empty-handed. Much of the gallery’s content appeals to a younger demographic. Particularly in the shop area that features cards and prints and small sculptures, prices are affordable even on a modest budget.
Keith’s pieces fall into several distinct categories. His macabre upcycling of discarded “Precious Moments” figurines is a wonderful example of his propensity to shock. You love them or hate them. One look at the most popular figurines at <preciousmoments.com>, the vast majority of which are Christmas-themed, compared to Busher’s most popular Christmas ornament — a Zombie Nutcracker — explains the dichotomy. He has received everything from vicious hate mail to commercial success and acclaim as a result.
In a brilliantly ironic twist of intent, he uses the most virulent attacks as testimonials for his Precious Mutations, but says the huge outpouring of hate “…changed my outlook on how to deal with people who assume things about me.” As a frequent target of ranting Internet Warriors*, he is extremely aware that their anonymity gives them the power to tear people apart without consequences. It further feeds his need to communicate his displeasure with the way people mistreat and prejudge each other. He wishes that jolting people out of their comfort zone would cause them to stop for a moment and consider why they respond with a vicious comment instead of reaching out to ask “Are you okay?”
Everything he creates is a commentary on his emotions, and he has devised a unique method of producing lovely abstracts using his original “painting with fireworks” technique. He is truly inventive. His photographs reveal a sensitivity and appreciation for both the beauty that he finds in nature, and the pathos he detects in humanity’s disregard for our former treasures — discarded books deteriorating in the rain, as well as figurines.
The backstory of how he arrived at this exciting milestone in his life centres around a specific trigger pulled by a (possibly) well-intentioned art teacher when he was in high school. The teacher told him, in no uncertain terms, that he should abandon his aspirations to be an artist because he had no talent; specifically, he couldn’t draw. His aspirations dashed, Keith quit school and experimented with a number of less-than-optimal ways to spend his time. He worked in warehouses and eventually became a carpenter for Great Lakes Scenic Studios, which did large industrial sets for theatrical shows on cruise ships, the National Hockey League, and Shanghai Disney in China.
About ten years ago he began sculpting by “repurposing” discarded figurines. For Busher, the availability of disappointed collectors’ former treasures is “basically a free art supply.” Rather than polluting the environment in a non-recyclable landfill, recovered Precious Moments figurines become Precious Mutations on Etsy and now in his gallery shop.
His gift for the ghoulish is what propelled him to online fame, notoriety, and the consequent ability to realize his dream of opening a gallery. In 2019 the popular blog at <ApartmentTherapy.com>, which boasts 2.2 million Instagram followers, featured some of his Precious Mutations. Their blog was picked up by other websites and within 36 hours he sold everything he had. Strangers started sending him their obsolete collections of figurines and plush toys, and orders and commissions (!) started pouring in. After years of haunting art markets and Comic-Cons and being turned down by conventional galleries, he had finally found his niche.
Now at his own gallery in tourist-friendly Perth, he wants to feature and support all the wonderful new artists who, like he was, are in art-limbo–purgatory because they don’t fit the mould of existing fine art galleries. He is targeting a newer, emerging clientele who have been raised on devices that have introduced them to all kinds of experimental art. The friendliness of everyone in their new hometown still amazes Keith and Michelle, his wife and partner. Past experience was that people were only friendly while you were buying something. In Perth the friendliness is genuine, and they absolutely love it. They intend to return the love by creating a welcoming space within the gallery for people who love to make art, and for a variety of other neighbourly activities.
Halloween is a great time to step out of your comfort zone and step into Keith Busher’s alternate realities. Unlike alternative facts, it isn’t dangerous, so drop into this extraordinary new gallery and explore some spooky fun. Details are on the back of his scary Artist Trading Card. Boo!
* Urban Dictionary defines internet warrior as “real life coward”
You have a chance to contribute to plans to address the Climate Crisis in Lanark County and Smiths Falls. A team from Climate Network Lanark worked to create a comprehensive survey to find out what Lanark County residents are currently doing and what they plan to do to address climate change.
The following information was taken from <climatenetworklanark.ca>, where you can find a link to the survey right on the home page.
Lanark Country is developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for the whole of Lanark County and Smiths Falls. It will provide an Action Plan for the next ten years for both County municipal operations (municipal buildings and garages, street lighting, municipal trucks, water and waste) as well as the community as a whole (homes, cottages, businesses, transportation, energy use, agriculture, etc.).
Our local governments control or influence fully 50% of our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions through their decisions on buildings, how we transport ourselves, how far apart our homes are from work, schools and commercial and civil centres, how we produce food and how we deal with waste. The CAP will identify ways to minimize Greenhouse Gas generation.
Climate Network Lanark needs your help to understand where we should best focus our efforts.
After completing the survey, you will have the option to enter your name and email address into a draw for one of four fabulous prizes:
A personal garden consultation with Ed Lawrence
A ride in his Tesla Electric Vehicle with Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow
A delicious and climate conscious local food taster pack from Nature’s Apprentice Farms and Maplelane Farms
A vegetarian dinner for two at a local restaurant, contributed by an anonymous donor
We asked Mayor Pankow to contribute to this article by sending us his own concerns as a mayor of a growing town in Lanark County. Here’s what he had to say:
“As much as climate action is a global issue, and although our federal and provincial governments must play a key role in ensuring our country hits the necessary targets for Greenhouse Gas reductions, we will only be able to make the societal shifts needed if every municipality and every citizen commits to the cause.
“Municipal governments are the closest to the people and it is critically important that we lead by example. To me, that means committing to aggressive targets, mandating that a climate lens be applied to all municipal decisions, and that we walk the talk. That means choosing electric vehicles and equipment over GHG-emitting vehicles and equipment corporately. It means utilizing heat pumps for heating and cooling and doing building envelope improvements to reduce energy consumption.
“By mitigating our GHG emissions and our energy consumption, and by employing waste reduction and diversion options, municipalities can lead the way in our communities. At the same time, municipalities must help enable similar actions with constituents and initiate additional steps to encourage active transportation, enhance our tree canopies and educate the public on what we all need to do.
“Additionally, we need to understand the growing opportunities related to solar power, carbon capture and sequestration, and other climate-action industries that can be economic drivers in our communities for a sustainable future.”
It’s exciting to know that community leaders are aware of the challenges and possibilities regarding our local response to the Climate Crisis. We need to heed Mayor Pankow by setting aggressive targets to meet our climate goals. Your participation in filling out the survey will help ensure that we get it right and can tell Lanark County Council what the citizens of Lanark expect from their county government. We are doing this for our grandkids and their grandkids! Please take the time to complete the survey — it’s quick and easy.
If you’re like me, you are hearing about climate change every day — and you’re seeing its effect in your own backyard.
Are fewer types of birds visiting your bird feeder? Current estimates indicate that North America is home to nearly three billion fewer birds today compared to 1970 — that’s more than 1 in 4 birds that have disappeared from the landscape in a mere half-century.
Remember when every summer car trip meant you had to scrub the windshield and the grill, because it was covered with squashed bugs? Have you noticed you don’t have to do that any more? Our insect populations are crashing at a rate of roughly 9% per year.
You may be feeling that you should be doing something, if only for your own sanity, but like many of us you feel helpless, as just one individual, to influence the big policy shifts that will force the real changes we need.
This article offers three concrete things you can do to make a difference. You can:
Leave the leaves to feed your soil — instead of bagging them and burning fossil fuel to drive them to the dump.
Create a safe refuge for threatened birds and insects under mature trees.
Reduce the amount of lawn you maintain and replace it with native plants that will attract and feed birds and insects.
Here’s how and why.
Leave the Leaves
Admittedly, your lawn looks pleasingly neat when all the fallen leaves are raked and bagged. But taking away all those leaves is a waste of soil-building material for your trees, and also for bugs and birds next year.
Try this instead. If you have the equipment, chop the fallen leaves; it will be easier to spread them and will help them stay put. Rake the chopped leaves into a large circle underneath your trees, wetting the leaves to help them get started on decomposing into compost. They will feed the soil and thus the tree. No bags. No fuel. No methane releases from leaves buried at the dump
Give Birds and Insects a Break
The circular layer of leaf mulch you have provided will become a favourite spot for diverse insects to reside and reproduce. Caterpillars dropping from the tree land in litter friendly to their reproduction cycle. A lawn is much like a desert to caterpillars. Many birds raise their young almost exclusively on caterpillars. Caterpillars transfer more energy from plants to animals than any other herbivores.
Reduce Lawn
Think about your lawn — a symbol of the British aristocracy and North American suburbs. Keeping it looking its best requires considerable attention and often the use of gas-powered mowers. In return, they’re attractive to look at — but they don’t support the insect life that in turn supports the birds. Think about reducing the size of “lawn” on your property and replacing at least some of it with the kinds of native flowering plants that the birds and the bees and other insects need.
The best time to do that is in the fall. Don’t dig up all the grass — you’ll end up with more weeds; just dig up the toughest tap-root weeds, like dandelions. Mow the grass you’ll be replacing very short, leaving the grass clippings where they lie. Dig a 15cm (6”) trough around the area you’ll be transforming, then cover the area with a 2.5cm (1”) layer of compost. Over that, lay down eight sheets of light-blocking newspaper (or pieces of corrugated cardboard), overlapping them 8cm (3”) at all edges so the area you’re working on is completely covered. Soak the newspaper/cardboard thoroughly to hold it down and speed its biological breakdown. Add another layer of compost (up to 10cm or 4”) on top of the newspaper/cardboard.
If you’re planting the native flowering plants in the Fall, you can do so right through the newspaper. Alternatively, you can leave the area to break down over the winter so it’s ready to plant in the Spring. Either way, don’t forget that new plantings need careful watering at first.
Try it — you’ll like it! And so will our planet.
That’s the enthusiastic start to the missive theHumm received recently from our friends up at MERA (McDonalds Corners & Elphin Recreation & Arts). We are delighted that they have started their Music at MERA concert series again, and we’d like to encourage our readers to support them by attending. All concerts take place on Sundays at 2pm, and you’ll find the details below.
Paul Marleyn & Frédéric Lacroix
On October 3, the very popular duo of pianist Frédéric Lacroix and cellist Paul Marleyn return to the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners. This show is almost sold out, but there are still three more coming up!
Mia for Thanksgiving
On October 10, you can catch some pre-turkey entertainment by the dynamic Mia Kelly! Mia is a bilingual, Ottawa-Gatineau-based singer/songwriter who adds a twist of soulful blues to folk music. Her powerful voice draws audiences into her heartfelt stories and raw emotions. Filling spaces with sing-alongs and stomping feet, she lights up the room with her happy soul and infectious energy.
Kelly Symes of Ottawa Bluesfest commented that “Mia’s powerful vocals transcend her young years and she has an impressive natural confidence that is rarely seen.” With many performances and releases under her belt, she was named one of Ottawa’s ten artists to watch in 2020 (Ottawa Citizen). With her youthful spirit and fresh material, 18-year-old Mia Kelly is making her mark in the Canadian Folk scene.
Doc MacLean
November 21 brings Doc MacLean — a weathered, wily, but infinitely likable storyteller and performer. Writing from the dark side of the blues highway, Doc’s distinctive vocals and bare-finger National guitar playing plot an intense, emotional remapping of contemporary Delta blues and roots music.
The son of a civil rights lawyer and a fiddle player, by his early teens MacLean was playing harmonica and washboard in coffeehouses and festivals, and was appearing on radio and television variety shows. In 1972 he formed a duo with Colin Linden (now a Grammy-nominated producer and recent Dylan guitarist) and became a frequent opener for Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Muddy Waters, and John Hammond. Famously, he traded a guitar for a 1948 Dodge, and set out to explore America — never looking back.
By 2006 Doc had settled permanently in Canada, releasing the critically acclaimed CD Narrow House. During the last decade, MacLean has performed 200+ road dates each year — his annual National Steel Blues Tour typically takes him to all ten Canadian provinces, two territories and 25 US states. In the process, the Tour itself became legendary. Since Doc likes to “tell songs and sing stories,” this intimate concert at MERA is your chance to become part of the legend!
Lynne Hanson
The final show in this series brings Lynne Hanson to the stage on November 28. Too tough for folk and too blues-influenced for country, Lynne’s brand of “porch music with a little red dirt” can turn on a dime from a sunshine, blue sky ballad to a full-on thunderstorm of gritty Americana swamp from one song to the next. She’s known for her high-energy roots guitar-driven live performances, whether playing solo or with her band The Good Intentions.
Lynne loves playing to a live audience and her joy is infectious. She is a two-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner, a two-time Indie Acoustic Project Alt-Country album of the year winner, a past winner of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award, and a two-time finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition in Texas. She has toured Canada, the US, Europe and the UK, so the opportunity to hear her in the warm embrace of the MERA Schoolhouse is a real treat!
Tickets and Such
Please note that with the prudent provincial regulations currently in place organizers are restricted to 25 tickets per show and will require proof of first and second Covid vaccination by all attendees. Masks must be worn while you are in the building. They thank you in advance for your cooperation with these precautions. Each show will be one complete performance as there will be no intermission.
Tickets are $25 plus service fees, and are available only at Tickets Please <ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434>. If a show is sold out, you can join a waiting list in the event that Provincial regulations allow for a larger audience.
A few years back, I (along with my husband, our twenty-something kids and their twenty-something friends) were regularly rocking out to the high-energy music of the Ramblin’ Valley Band. They seemed to play any chance they got, and filled local venues with enthusiastic fans who knew the members by name and their lyrics by heart. Alas, the band is no longer together, but we were delighted to hear that the talented Trevor Lubin has been playing locally, often in the company of his former bandmate Joe McDonald. theHumm contacted Trevor to find out more about his musical plans.
theHumm: Let’s start with the good stuff — who have you been playing with lately, and what gigs do you have coming up?
Trevor Lubin: I recently had the good fortune of playing with my long-time musical compatriot, Joseph McDonald — not only one of the primary songwriters and guitar players from the Ramblin’ Valley Band, but also my first, and longest, musical collaborator. We first met and started jamming in Grade 9, and we’ve continued to play together since then, pushing one another to greater and greater heights with a friendly competition.
Coming up, I’ll be playing with the funk/soul jam band Mecca of Stank at Live on Elgin on October 3, and at Daniel O’Connell’s on October 30 and November 26. I’ll also be accompanying Ottawa singer Crystalena at a live virtual event at Algonquin Commons Theatre on October 8 as part of the Sounds of Hope Benefit Concert.
How have you weathered the pandemic? Have you been able to continue playing and teaching music?
Compared to many of my peers, I’ve been incredibly lucky in how my own business evolved over the course of the pandemic. Like so many others, I lost thousands of dollars in upcoming concerts when the first lockdown mandates were announced last year. I’m very grateful to Wendy Whittaker, my former boss and proprietor of Mississippi Mills Musicworks before it closed — she was incredibly kind and supportive to me after the store and school closed, providing me with a full client list of students that I have had the pleasure of teaching remotely for the last year-and-a-half. Unlike so many others, who had to move into new industries to make a living wage, I had, and continue to have, the privilege of teaching enthusiastic students of all ages.
The most difficult thing has been adapting to the new medium of remote lessons and trying to maintain a quality of instruction in spite of the limitations. It’s difficult enough to teach one-on-one, and I’ve only worked with a maximum of eight students in one session, so I can only imagine and respect the workload of so many teachers in the local school board who have had to teach classes of thirty or more.
On top of that, I began working earlier this year with Craig Cardiff as a recording engineer and session player for an enterprise that has us working with various school boards, teaching songwriting, how to use recording software, and helping young people to find their own voice and compose their own songs. In a strange twist, I find myself more busy than I was before the onset of Covid.
The trials of the last year-and-a-half have also been an opportunity to understand myself as an artist, and where my own strengths and limitations lie. I’ve discovered, among other things, how beholden I am to others, whether it be in a band or otherwise, to motivate my own practice and writing. Learning to be a solo artist, by necessity, and being my own taskmaster has proved one of the most difficult skills to develop. When you’re playing eight hours a day for others, whether as a session player or teacher, it’s quite a challenge to remain motivated to work on your own projects when all you want to do is take a break. It’s the old story — monetizing a passion puts one at risk of losing that very same passion. I’ve found that my own ideal way of decompressing after a long day has been revisiting my interest in the hard sciences and perusing old textbooks. If nothing else, this pandemic has given me an opportunity to return to some of the academic interests that animated me in my university days.
How are you feeling about the prospects for live music this fall and winter?
I’ve been very pleasantly surprised, both at the enthusiasm and gratitude of audiences who have been deprived of an opportunity to enjoy live music, and at many club owners and managers who have been more accommodating, both financially and otherwise, in sourcing local musicians to play their venues. I’ve been playing regularly since August, on average one show a week, with little sign of slowing down. Admittedly, I’m somewhat fearful of what a fourth wave might bring this coming winter season, but if mortality and morbidity indicators continue to trend downwards, I’m cautiously optimistic for continued growth in the Ottawa music scene, as performers and proprietors adapt to the latest safety measures and capacity limits. One of the things I’ve missed most during the pandemic has been keeping close contact with the local music community as it exists in music bars and concert halls across the city. There have been so many familiar faces and friends I’ve been glad to reconnect with, now that the spaces that host these events are open once more. Some of my favourite places, like Irene’s Pub and Live On Elgin, have weathered the storm, while other great music venues have not, and they will be missed. We can only hope that new businesses will be brave enough to fill the niches left open in the Ottawa scene.
If in-person performance opportunities become scarce again, are there other ways that fans can support you and your music?
Now that I have the equipment, infrastructure and skillset to record music, I’m looking forward to experimenting with livestreams and releasing content, both as a means to continue playing in the event of another lockdown, but also because it is a new frontier in how we consume music that’s here to stay. I’ve been inspired to watch a few friends commit to working almost entirely online, whether streaming their own daily performances, or connecting with artists and being hired to play on their songs via online marketplaces like Fiverr. What it means to be a working musician is even now being shaped in the internet age, where geographical barriers no longer prevent collaboration and transactions between artists, and fans, halfway around the world. That change is only being accelerated, and I’m very interested to see what happens next.
If people want to find out about other upcoming gigs, and/or contact you about lessons, where should they go to find you?
They can find show details on my social media, whether from Trevor Lubin on Facebook, or as trevorlubin on Instagram. And if they’d like to inquire about lessons on many a string instrument, whether guitar, bass, mandolin, banjo or ukulele, they need only send me an email at <trevor.lubin@gmail.com>.
There will be a One Day Only Open Studio on Saturday, October 9 from 10am to 5pm at Catherine Orfald’s painting studio, located at 1848 Old Brooke Road in Maberly. Rita Redner will be a guest with her pottery. Covid protocols will be in place: please wear a mask and respect distancing.
Catherine will be exhibiting pieces from this year’s DRAW retreat <dumoine.org/draw>. This Dumoine River Art for Wilderness retreat had 15 artists exploring, learning, and creating art in support of efforts by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society — Ottawa Valley (CPAWS-OV) to protect the Dumoine, Noire, and Coulonge Rivers. Catherine will donate 20% of the sale price of any painting inspired by the Dumoine to CPAWS-OV to help in their conservation efforts.
Rita will have work from her latest firing on hand with many popular items available for sale. She has been continuing her studio practice over the course of three very tumultuous years.
Both artists are looking forward to welcoming you to this One Day Only Open Studio. Please visit <orfald.ca> and <ritarednerpottery.square.site> for more details.
October is Canadian Library Month! During this month, libraries and their partners across Canada raise awareness of the valuable role libraries play in Canadians’ lives. For 2021, Ontario Public Library Week will take place from October 17 to October 23, and the theme is “One Card, One Million Possibilities.”
Explore these possibilities through the Perth and District Library’s Scavenger Hunt. This all-ages event will take place on Saturday, October 30. To participate, stop by the library anytime between 10am and 4pm. Then #searchthestacks for clues that will lead to a secret password. Finally, share the password with front desk staff to receive a peanut-free treat and a book!
The Perth and District Library is also updating their Strategic Plan to guide the library over the next two years. What do you love about the library? Why don’t you use the library? Share your ideas and opinions in this short survey by October 15 at <perthunionlibrary.ca/survey>. Complete the survey and you could win a swag bag!
For more information, call 267–1224 or go to <perthunionlibrary.ca>.
From Pumpkins at the Palace, the Perth Ghost Walk, concerts, theatre productions and more, you’ll find so much to do in Perth for Halloween!
You won’t want to miss the famous Perth Ghost Walk starting from Perth Museum (11 Gore St. E.) on October 28, 29 and 30. The walks are led by historian Susan Code McDougall, who will tell you some of the eerie tales in Perth’s past and outline the buildings where ghost sightings have been reported. The tour is targeted toward adults but is suitable for children ages 8 and up.
Last year’s Pumpkins at the Palace pumpkin carving competition was such a success that it’s returning for a second year. Over 80 pumpkins were on display in the Crystal Palace (31 Basin Street) in Perth, and even more are expected this year, along with other Halloween decorations. You’ll be able to see the pumpkins (and vote for your favourites!) from 5pm on Wednesday, October 27 until noon on November 1. Want to get involved in the competition? Visit <perth.ca/Halloween> for details, including where to pick up a pumpkin, how to register, and where to drop if off. Contest winners will be announced on Perth Tourism’s Facebook page on November 3. All pumpkins will be sent to the Green Bin after the event is over.
Looking for a different kind of Halloween experience? The Civitan Club of Perth is offering a drive-through Halloween event with decorations and goodie bags for children on October 31 from 6:30-8:30pm. Check out the weekend of music titled Blues on the Tay, presented by Harmony Concerts at Studio Theatre Perth, on October 29 and 30. On October 21–23 and 28–30, you can also catch The Spooking Season II at Full Circle Theatre. These readings of classic horror tales will start at 7:30pm, and admission is $20 for adults and $10 for students.
What about a stroll though a corn maze and a pumpkin patch, followed by lawn games and pumpkin pies? You simply must make a visit to Scotch Line Farm a part of your family’s fall traditions. Don’t forget to visit the cafés, restaurants and eateries in Perth for all the fall flavours, and to add in a day of shopping for sweater weather, fall photo shoots and seasonal home décor.
Visit <perth.ca/Halloween> for information and links to all things spooky in Perth!
If the crisp autumn air and turning colours have you yearning to get out into the countryside, you’ll be delighted to hear that twenty talented artists are participating in the Fall 2021 Red Trillium Studio Tour over the weekend of October 23 and 24!
Red Trillium showcases the studios of some of West Carleton’s most talented artists and fine craftspeople. Just twenty minutes beyond Kanata, into the scenic countryside around Carp, Dunrobin and Kinburn, you will be welcomed at studios featuring paintings, jewellery, sculpture, photography, woodturning, pottery, glasswork, designer clothing and fine art textiles. Best of all, artists will be on hand to discuss their work and tell you about their inspiration!
Most of the eight stops feature multiple artists, so plan to visit them all and bask in the beautiful variety of art and craft. Please note that all recommended Covid precautions will be observed at each studio. At The Olde Meeting House in Fitzroy Harbour, in addition to meeting several artists, you will be able to enjoy a take-out coffee and snack. A number of restaurants in the area are also offering great take-out breakfast and lunch options.
Visit <redtrilliumst.com> to download a list of the studios and a map, and to find more information about the participating artists and craftspeople. The Tour is also on Facebook and Instagram.
This Thanksgiving weekend, take a romp through the colourful and historic backroads of Mississippi Mills to enjoy three — yes, three — art tours in one special event! On October 9 and 10, the Mississippi Mills Art Romp will combine the artistic expressions of the Maple Run Tour, the Crown and Pumpkin Studio Tour, and Art in the Attic. Over 40 artists and artisans will welcome you to heritage buildings, unique shops, a craft brewery, and even a Christmas tree farm, as well as individual artist studios and the Almonte Potters Guild. You can romp your way through Mississippi Mills, visiting Pakenham, Cedar Hill, Clayton and Union Hall, and on into Almonte.
For more information on artists and locations, visit <almonteartintheattic.wordpress.com>, <crownandpumpkin.com>, and <mapleruntour.com>.
The Mississippi Mills Art Romp has a bit of “chomp” too. The tour presents fine food artisans, and there are many local food stops along the way to keep you fueled. Pakenham boasts ice cream, fudge, family dining, a gluten-free bakery and the iconic 1840s General Store. Sample craft brews at Cartwright Springs just a short drive away. At Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm, enjoy delicious homemade lunch fare and baking from the CandyCane Kitchen. Visit the Clayton General Store for light lunches, and while in Almonte explore the many unique restaurants and food trucks.
There’s even more — in good Ottawa Valley tradition, the Romp has a Stomp too. We’ve partnered with the Folkus Concert Series to present local musicians at major venues. For details of performers and times, please consult <folkusalmonte.com>.
The Art Romp artists are so excited to be back after a long hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. Appropriately at Thanksgiving, they are also thankful for this opportunity to meet you. Please be aware that Covid protocols apply at all venues.
For more information about the Mississippi Mills Art Romp, please call 256–3647.
Romp. Chomp. Stomp.
What a better way to start off a renewed theatre season than with a comedy? Rural Root Theatre Company will be performing The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby by Norm Foster, directed by Helen and Martin Weeden, at the Northwind Wireless Fibe Centre in Constance Bay. Performances will take place on November 7 at 2pm, and from November 9–13 at 7:30pm.
This play is a “fish out of water” tale centering around James, a naive business techie who thinks he’s really going places in his career. Due to car problems on his way to a big conference where he is scheduled as a guest speaker, he finds himself stranded and frustrated for the weekend in the small town of Kooshog Lake during their annual fishing derby. While he is stuck there, four “locals” have a good time at his expense.
Tickets go on sale on October 1, and are available from Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434). All Covid protocols will be in place for the performance, and everyone attending must have proof of double vaccination and wear a mask. There will be no walk-ins allowed.
Established in January 2020, the Friends of the Mississippi Mills Public Library (FMMPL) is a volunteer fundraising group that works to support and promote the services of the Mississippi Mills Public Library. We are an independent, arms-length body collaborating with and supporting the library through all its initiatives, creating a strong library community in Mississippi Mills.
We were just getting underway when Covid hit, throwing a monkey wrench into our early fundraising plans and kiboshing our event planning. We rallied, and in the summer of 2020 we hosted a sale table outside the Almonte Branch selling face masks, book bags, and, through a partnership with the Naismith Men’s Shed, a variety of handcrafted wooden products, many of which are on display in our Friendshop located inside the Almonte branch.
One of our volunteers, Gail, is also a seamstress, and if you have ever bought a book bag, face mask or arm rest, then you know who I am talking about! Gail has been sewing all her life. She began sewing at the age of seven on a German toy sewing machine — a Little Princess — and she still has it! Now Gail sews on a machine that is nearly a century old. It came from an old coat factory in Montreal and is still going strong — Gail has been using this workhorse for more than thirty years!
Gail says she just loves everything about fabric — the look of it, its feel, the beautiful designs — plus she loves buying fabric. Sometimes Gail sews from patterns or kits but often she follows her instincts in making a creation her own. One funny sewing quirk is that Gail often starts in the middle of a piece, figuring out its centre then working outwards until she gets an end result that she likes. Gail donates both her time and her materials in making items for the Friends of the Library. She has sold over 125 book bags for children and adults. She has also made fantastic arm rests for reading — great for resting a book on your lap while reading. Gail is a true Friend of the Library.
October is Canadian Library Month, which is a month-long celebration of libraries intended to raise awareness and celebrate the valuable role they play in our lives. In Mississippi Mills, we will be hosting a Silent Auction of items donated by individuals and our wonderful local businesses — they will be on display in the Almonte Branch throughout the month during library hours. Bidding will be online — watch the MM Public Library Facebook Group for updates on how to access it. We will notify you if you are the successful bidder, and prizes can be picked up and paid for on Monday, November 1 at the Almonte Branch.
One of our leading bid items is a quilt crafted by Gail! It’s a spectacularly beautiful seasonal quilt made from a quilting kit from Textile Traditions. You’ll have to stop by and see it in person… and of course make a bid on it. Gail has also designed and crafted two knitting or project bags in wonderful fabric — one with bicycles and the other with the tree of wisdom. Loaded with pockets and lots of space, you’ll be sure to fit all your projects and accessories in these bags, pack a picnic or use it for an overnight bag — the possibilities are endless, just like in libraries!
Libraries are more than just books. They support freedom of expression, promote community engagement, provide educational programming for all ages, and promote cultural awareness and engagement. Please stop by to see all the goodies our community has donated to the Silent Auction; the support for our library has been overwhelming. All proceeds from the auction go directly to the library to benefit its many initiatives.
There are other ways to support the Friends of the Mississippi Mills Public Library. If you would like to make a financial donation, please contact us at <friends@missmillslibrary.com>. Please make cheques payable to the Friends of the Mississippi Mills Public Library. Cash donations can be made at either the Almonte Branch or the Pakenham Branch of the library. Any donation of $20 or more will receive a charitable tax receipt. And please visit the Friendshop — a little retail corner in the Almonte Branch. Or join the MM Public Library Facebook Group! Anyone is welcome to join FMMPL through an annual membership of $10/person or $25/corporate membership. FMMPL is always looking for new enthusiastic friends to help support our fundraising efforts. Please contact <friends@missmillslibrary.com> to join today.
On October 4, the Sisters in Spirit Vigil will be held in many places across Canada. In Perth, the Vigil will take place at the Healing Forest Memorial in Last Duel Park at 5.30pm. The event will include an Indigenous Ceremony, readings, and a display of Red Dresses. Anyone is welcome to attend the ceremony, which will be held in accordance with current Covid guidelines. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket if you wish.
The Sisters in Spirit Vigil honours Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People. This vigil also shows support for their families. The Red Dresses have become a symbol of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Sisters in Spirit began in 2009 when the Native Women’s Association, with support from Status of Women Canada, started to research the stories, circumstances and frequency of violence experienced by native women and girls, when it had become apparent that a disproportionate number of native women were missing or murdered. Their research has been important in informing both the public and levels of government of the issues. They continue to research and document the experiences of native women as well as informing and making recommendations to policy makers.
For further information, please visit <lanarkcountyneighbours.ca> or direct questions to <lanarkneighbours@gmail.com>.
My Dad was an old-school two-finger typist of the Hunt & Peck method. But when he got going, it was pure music. Clack, clack, clack, ding, zzziipp!, and he’d throw the carriage back across to start the next line. He was as fast as any ten fingers touch typist, with very few mistakes. He used an antique upright Underwood with a crescent of keys that slapped against the paten with rapid fire speed. Ding, zzziipp! At the end of a page, he’d whip the paper out with a flourish. The keys might get stuck, the inky black and red ribbon might twist, but he could fix it in an instant.
In high school, all girls were encouraged to take touch typing as an escape route if our career choices fell through. I hated it, trying to type blind to the key letters, and I never achieved a high enough speed to get the darned diploma even. However, I can whack away at this silent keyboard now, blessing the marvel of auto correct, all ten fingers laying out my text as fast as I can think it up.
Well, that was until last week. Just when least expected, fate intervened and I broke my right hand. No tears here, just a fluke thing, but a nuisance. The upside is, being left-handed means I can still half-navigate. Here’s the thing, though. I’ve always used the mouse with my right hand. At first I couldn’t even find the magic arrow, and it definitely didn’t respond like it should.
So your mind/hand coordination challenge this week is to trade hands on the mouse, and see how that works for you. It’s really, really hard!
[Up to this point, over ¾of an hour, many skipped letters, thirty errors needing the mouse to correct, 20 more when I did it wrong.]
I can’t find the right-hand keys quickly, and stumble with letter order. I can’t reach the shift keys well, so punctuation is a hoot! Upper case is dependent on the autocorrect thing. I keep hitting the shift key when it should be the return key. Further, a large block of my scintillating text disappeared when I got the wrong delete key. You can make up something yourself to fill that space because the thought of doing it all over again is a non-starter. Bullets are appearing as gremlins everywhere, so I’m hitting something else I don’t usually touch.
Doing things with one hand was a game we played as kids, but it’s no game now. There goes my gardening, there goes trying to cut tomatoes, there goes tying my runners even. And don’t watch as I struggle to do up the zipper on my jacket. (An aside: thank goodness for pull-on jeans. Ahem.)
I am cutting myself some slack, and being patient, but nonetheless am using this inconvenience as a learning experience. I managed to tie my runners today, and folded the laundry even. So I’m not saying “I can’t…”. I’m saying “I can, but it’ll take me longer”, so long in fact that I can’t do dishes or clean the house. I figure if I can get from morning to evening in one piece, hurrah, and shouldn’t that be celebrated with a glass of wine. That I can still do easily!!
[And this has been another ¾ hour that I won’t get back. However, I think I’ve nearly mastered the mouse reversal with fewer errors than before. Give that a try, and then take an aspirin; it nearly makes your head crazy.]