The following Articles and Images have been added to the database
Looking to help out locals in need at this giving time of year? St. James Anglican Church in Franktown is providing two ways for you to donate. From November 7 to December 1 they are having their annual Mitten Tree, where they take donations of new mittens, hats and scarves for Family & Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds & Grenville. From November 12 to December 13 they are also accepting Christmas stockings for adults, labelled “his” and “hers”, filled with toiletries; they will be donated to the Lanark County Food Bank. After December?? you would need to deliver them directly to the Food Bank. For further information, please contact Cora at ???–3789 or Jan at 283–5940.
The Kanata Civic Art Gallery is very pleased to announce that they are re-opening! On Thursday, November 4 the Gallery re-opens to the public, with Covid protocols in place. Artists are anxious to welcome back the art-loving public. New limited hours and days are Thursdays and Fridays from 1-4pm and Saturdays from 10am–1pm at 2500 Campeau Drive (the Mlacak Centre), Kanata. Their upcoming show ‘Tis the Season runs from November 4 to January 2 at the Gallery, and online at <kanatagallery.ca>. Follow them on social media <@kanatagallery>. They look forward to seeing you soon!
Tom and Michelle Levi, along with their staff, invite everyone to come to Levi Home Hardware in Almonte to see their annual Remembrance Day Display. For the past twelve years, Bill and Stella Lawrence have been putting on a Remembrance Day display showing six generations of their family service. Veterans themselves, they have a special interest in showing what veterans and serving members have done and continue to do in our communities and around the world. The display started with a six-foot table and a couple of uniforms, and has grown into a 500-square-foot “museum”. It has also become a community initiative, with local residents bringing in their family history for display during the event. Last year the display was featured on CTV Ottawa News, with Dylan Dyson doing a short interview in the store.The display is running from October 20 to November 13 this year.
From November 10 to December 30, Sivarulrasa Gallery is pleased to present their 7th Anniversary Show, as they celebrate seven years of operations in beautiful Almonte, Ontario. Gallery owner Sanjeev Sivarulrasa says, “We are thrilled to curate and install our biggest show of the year, featuring sculpture, paintings, drawings and mixed media works from artists based in Almonte as well as across the country.” The exhibition can be seen in-person during regular Gallery hours: Tuesdays to Sundays from 11am to 5pm.
Artists featured in this very special show include Barbara Gamble, Carol Bajen-Gahm, Caroline Ji, Catherine Gutsche, Cathy Ross, Dale Dunning, Deborah Arnold, Elaine Carr, Eric Walker, Gayle Kells, George Horan, Gizem Candan, Jane Irwin, Jihane Mossalim, Jim Hake, Karen Haines, Louis Thériault, Mary Pfaff, Michael Pittman, Sanjeev Sivarulrasa, Sarah Anderson, Sue Adams, Susan Low-Beer, Susan Tooke, Wendy Robertson and William Liao. For more information, please visit <sivarulrasa.com>.
Vernissage/Meet the Artists
On Saturday, November 13, drop in from 2–5pm for an incredible 7th Anniversary cake! Many of the represented artists will be in attendance, and there will also be a special musical guest, Marianne Lin (harp). As per the new Ontario rules, the gallery can operate this event at full capacity as long as they require proof of vaccination — so please present that at the door. Sivarulrasa Gallery is located at 34 Mill Street in Almonte.
Back by popular demand, we are starting to organize the second online birdhouse auction!
Remember the Birdhouse Blowout online auction this past April — the stunning birdhouse creations, the fun of following the auction online through the tail-end of winter, the thrill of owning your own birdhouse? At the time, we believed it was a one-off event to get us all through Covid. Post-auction we were inundated by birdhouse makers, auction participants, and those who just rode along for fun, all calling for a follow-up.
So in the spring of 2022, we will run the Birdhouse Bonanza! Why the name change? We made the decision to spread the funds around by supporting a different community group each year. Next year’s auction will benefit the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust <mmlt.ca> in support of their activities and projects. With its focus on preserving the natural environment and wildlife, it was an obvious choice. It also allows us to dedicate the auction to Michael McPherson, who died earlier in the year, in memory of his involvement with the Land Trust and his community leadership. We all miss his presence and his fine character.
Start planning to make (or buy) your next birdhouse now, and look for advertising and promotion beginning in January of 2022. Let’s do this again!
Art Works! Perth is cordially inviting local fine art makers and artisans of all media — potters, printmakers, photographers, painters, mixed media and all others — to apply for their fourth annual juried art tour. Dates will be June 24–26, 2022, from 11am–5pm daily. Those who wish to exhibit in their own homes, studios and galleries are especially welcome. Space in downtown Perth establishments is available but very limited.
Application forms can be downloaded from the Art Works! Perth website <artworksperth.ca>. Questions can be directed to 647–963–8358 or to <uppercrossfarm@hotmail.com>.
The Town of Carleton Place is pleased to share details of the first annual Carleton Place Winter Wonderland Festival, taking place from December 10–12.
The Winter Wonderland Festival will be located at Carleton Junction, 42 Moore Street. The weekend will consist of a variety of outdoor winter activities, live entertainment, music, food vendors and more. Fabulous Canadian children’s entertainers Splash’N Boots are the festival headliners, with shows on Saturday, December 11 at 2pm and Sunday, December 12 at 10am.
Carleton Place’s own The Bowes Brothers will be taking the stage on Friday evening, and Jaxstraw will headline the Saturday evening entertainment. The complete Main Stage Line-up, along with updates and festival details, can be found online at <cpwinterwonderland.ca>.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the first annual Winter Wonderland Festival here in Carleton Place,” notes Jessica Hansen, Community Programmer. “We look forward to welcoming everyone to an action-packed weekend of entertainment, activities and fun!”
The Recreation & Culture Department wishes to express its gratitude and acknowledge that this event is made possible through funding support from the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Tourism, Sport, and Culture.
Day passes to the festival are on sale for $10 per person, with children under 7 entering free of charge. Online tickets are on sale now through Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434). Tickets will also be available at the Carleton Place Arena, 75 Neelin Street.
On Saturday, November 6, Union Hall will be hosting a “Community Builders” craft fair. In addition to raising funds for the Hall’s ongoing renovations, we have invited other charities and non-profits to join us at the event to raise awareness and much-needed cash for their enterprises.
The Union Hall Community Centre, a registered charity, was erected in 1857 and continues to be the hub of the community which bears its name. Funded mainly through rentals, donations and fundraising, with financial assistance from Mississippi Mills, the Hall is maintained and operated by volunteers. Hand-crafted hardwood cutting boards, along with items sewn from re-purposed fabric, such as one-of-a-kind yoga mat bags, tote bags and household items, will be on offer.
Other groups on board so far include:
Stir It Up Collective is an up-and-coming social enterprise whose goal is to support women who have been victims of human trafficking. Partnering with other community agencies and businesses, SIUC will offer client-centred wellness and employment-readiness programs so that these women can build the skills and confidence to move forward with their goals. They will be selling their own coffee blend from Equator Coffee Roasters, as well as handmade meditation benches in various sizes and styles.
Home Hospice North Lanark provides in-home compassionate services to adult clients and their families where there has been a life-threatening or terminal diagnosis. They also offer bereavement support and public education. All services are free and provided in a holistic manner that respects culture, dignity and personal lifestyle preferences. HHNL will be selling woodworking items and home-baked goods to take home.
The Hub in Almonte sells gently used merchandise for every shopper at very reasonable prices. All profits are donated to community projects and to our friends and neighbours who need a helping hand. They will be selling high-quality housewares and collectibles at this event.
Please join us on Saturday, November 6, from 10am to 4pm at Union Hall, 1984 Wolf Grove Road at the corner of Tatlock Road. Because of Covid protocols, no refreshments will be offered, but there will be a cozy fire in the woodstove. To stay safe, you will be required to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer and provide contact information, and the number of people in the hall will be monitored to allow for social distancing.
There is still time for your charitable or non-profit organization to join! For information or to book a table, contact Linda at <camponi@storm.ca> or 808–2781.
Perth Tourism invites you to explore all that the town has to offer this holiday season. Enjoy a weekend in Perth and take some time for yourself to unwind and indulge. With numerous events planned throughout November and December, the holiday spirit will be sure to surround you while you stroll the streets and explore the beautiful old-world charm of the town.
Bursting with carefully curated boutiques and shops, you’ll easily be able to find gifts for everyone on your holiday shopping list — and maybe even something for yourself! Art, fine crafts, local fashions and more can be found throughout the community.
Take a break from holiday shopping and take a self-guided tasting tour or themed walking tour, and stop for a meal created by talented chefs at one of the numerous restaurants and eateries. Warm up with a beverage at a café, or sample some of the unique offerings at the local craft breweries and distillery.
As the sun sets, you’ll notice that the downtown sparkles with Christmas lights draped on the trees lining the streets. The holiday spirit culminates at the Crystal Palace which is filled with decorated Christmas trees as part of the Festival of Lights, taking place from November 20 to January 2. For the second year in a row you’ll find the Community Christmas Tree lit up next to the Crystal Palace — a thank you to the frontline workers for everything they’ve provided since the beginning of the pandemic.
Experience an unforgettable weekend in Perth. Visit <perth.ca/holidayevents> for more information and to stay-up-to-date on details.
Since September of 2020, Climate Network Lanark (CNL) has written monthly in this column about their ongoing work to find local solutions and promote action on Climate Change. Now this work is being focused toward advising Lanark County Council on making an effective Climate Action Plan. CNL has come up with recommendations that are do-able, are relevant to our way of life, and will improve things for our kids’ futures.
The good news is that it’s well proven that greening the economy can make/keep our lives prosperous, provide lots of interesting, sustainable work, and keep things beautiful. Further, it’s clear that people want to take substantive action to cut Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions — but for them to do that, there must be system change at the local level. Where to start? How about with the biggest emitter of GHGs in our community?
Transportation
Transportation is responsible for more than half of GHGs from the community in Lanark County and Smith Falls. Creation of a good public transit system serving Lanark County and Smiths Falls and linking them to Ottawa is sorely needed. Fortunately, the transition to electric vehicles, to micro-transit, and to shared vehicles allows public transit to be redefined in more imaginative terms than have been possible up to now. The County could potentially adopt one or more of the innovative public transit systems now being implemented in other small towns and rural communities. Some examples include the rural bus company Grey County Transit <grey.ca>, the Taxibus example in Rimouski <rimouskibus.com>, the Uber-style shared car system in Innisfil, as well as auto-share programs and other micro-transit systems across the country.
Other important contributors to the goal of cutting emissions include promoting Electric Vehicles; using local media, social media and outreach engagement with community organizations; contracting the installation of chargers on public streets so that residents of apartment buildings have realistic access to EVs; and considering the possibility of using school buses for public transportation in off-school hours.
Residential
Many more people are predicted to move to our County in the near future — how can we make sure the inevitable (and current) housing options are sustainable and low-carbon?
In Lanark County and Smiths Falls, buildings are responsible for 31% of the GHG emissions from the community. We also have a severe shortage of affordable housing. The combination of many new builds for various incomes, upgrading older houses, and rising energy costs, provides lots of potential for enlightened, proven solutions. With good planning and access to various assistance programs we have a great opportunity to cut GHGs locally and create healthier housing and communities. CNL’s recommendations are focused on enabling homeowners to get off fossil fuels, reduce their energy use, switch to electric systems and add renewable energy.
CNL envisions networks that link homeowners with information, subsidy programs and suppliers of equipment such as electric heat pumps and renewable energy systems. We need an expansion of the County’s Insulate Lanark program (check out “Insulate Lanark” online), as well as other incentives, subsidies and zero-interest programs. There is a need, and an economic opportunity, to build a pool of skilled local tradespeople; and to reduce development charges and building permit fees to give incentive to builders to build to LEED <cgbc.org> and Passive House standards and to reduce the carbon content of materials. Since houses are currently built to last about 50 years, putting in fossil fuel heating/cooling infrastructure is really not the way to go!
Nature-Based Climate Solutions
Nature-Based Climate Solutions (NBCS) take advantage of natural systems to provide economic, environmental and social benefits. These solutions focus on protected areas, restoration and the improved management of forests and agricultural lands by increasing carbon storage, and stopping biodiversity loss and species collapse.
If decision makers don’t understand the value of NBCS, they won’t pursue them. The goal of Climate Network Lanark’s NBCS Working Group is to ensure that municipal councilors understand the role and value of NBCS so that they create the policies, planning and programs to realize these solutions.
For example, what is the value of wetlands? A 2009 study by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources estimated the value of the ecological services provided by wetlands in rural areas at $15,171 per hectare per year.
So where to start? CNL has recommended that the County conduct a Natural Asset Inventory (including valuation), and based on this inventory, develop an integrated Natural Asset Management Plan — a great first step!
Our Waste: What a Waste!
The following statistic ought to stop you in your tracks. Imagine: organic waste accounts for over 50% of residential and commercial waste, and as it sits in landfill it produces methane — a Greenhouse Gas over 80 times more destructive than CO2 in the short term. What could the County do to address this?
CNL recommends that the County encourage cooperative lower-tier waste management. Currently, each of the lower-tier municipalities is in charge of their own waste management, which leads to disparities across the County in how organics are dealt with. Perth and Smiths Falls each create compost out of their collected yard waste, but the rest of the lower-tiers leave the yard waste unturned in a large methane-producing pile. If we can identify a unifying plan for organics that benefits from a larger reach and bulk collection, we can choose best practices for the whole County.
What’s the best way to get organics out of landfill? Don’t waste the food in the first place! Social organizations, farms and industries can be paired up through organizations such as Second Harvest <secondharvest.ca>, which also offers funding.
If organic waste is picked up, processed and redistributed, resources can include good quality uncontaminated food waste as livestock feed; compost from yard waste and/or food waste for farmers, businesses or individuals; and clean, unpainted scrap wood/branches to be accessed by those with wood stoves.
In conclusion, you can see that there are many solid ideas to help Lanark become a greener place to live and work. If implemented, they will also contribute to the work being done around the globe to seriously and quickly address the carbon pollution that is having such dire effects on our planet. Please tell your local councilor that you support an aggressive Climate Action Plan in Lanark!
From November 5–15, you can help support the work of the Guatemala Stove Project by participating in an online auction of amazing items. Choose from Guatemalan handicrafts, pottery, gift baskets, paintings and jewellery, restaurant and business vouchers, and much more by visiting <32auctions.com/2021GSP>. Proceeds will support the building of chimney-vented cooking stoves for Maya families. These stoves not only reduce the amount of wood needed for cooking and heating — they also improve the health of family members by venting smoke outdoors. When indoor open fires or rudimentary stoves are used, the smoke pours directly into the room and contributes to a wide range of chronic illnesses and health impacts such as early childhood pneumonia, emphysema, lung cancer, bronchitis, cardiovascular disease and low birth weight.
Join in the fun, and place your bids from 4pm on November 5 until 8pm on the 15th, and help support the Guatemala Stove Project. For more information, please visit <guatemalastoveproject.org>.
If you’re missing your weekly jaunt to the Almonte Farmers’ Market, you certainly won’t want to miss their indoor Harvest Market on Saturday, November 13. From 9am to 1pm they will be filling the upper hall at the Almonte Arena with fresh veggies, baking, preserves, organic pork, grassfed beef, honey, maple syrup, wine, herbal remedies and body products. In addition, you’ll find all sorts of gift ideas for early holiday shopping!
Masks will be mandatory and people will have to sign in for contact tracing, but proof of vaccination will not required as they are an essential service.
Organizer Hilary Moore notes that the market is “so very grateful to our patrons for their continued support. It has been a tough two summers, having to run at half-capacity, so we are doubly thrilled to be able to hold our two indoor markets again. If we can take something away from this pandemic, it is the importance of a local food system and a sense of community.”
The second indoor market will take place on Saturday, December 11, also at the Almonte Arena upper hall.
One new vendor at this year’s Almonte Farmers’ Market is Natasha from Ladybird Almonte. She had this to say about her experience:
“This was my first market, and I loved it. I was able to meet some amazing people in the community — both vendors and customers. I learned so much and appreciated being able to buy local so easily. Everyone worked so well and hard together. I will be attending the Harvest and Christmas markets, selling my macramé plant hangers, Christmas decorations, other macramé goodies and some take-home kits. There is so much to learn at the market — from food sourcing to how to grow a healthy garden. Everyone is always willing to chat and share their knowledge.”
For more information about events and vendors, find them on Facebook or visit <almontefarmersmarket.com>.
The Lanark County Food Bank 2021 Christmas Stocking Drive is gearing up, and organizer extraordinaire Sandy Schappert is asking the community to help make this 13th annual event merrier than ever.
Sandy is the spirit behind these Christmas Stockings filled with toiletries. Acting upon a remark her late husband Hank Schappert once made while volunteering at the Food Bank, she has sought to fill the need for toiletries for adults for more than a decade, and each year the community responds. For many adults who access the Lanark County Food Bank, these stockings are the only gift they will receive at Christmas, and they look forward to the wonderful surprises that they bring.
If you’d like to donate stockings, toiletries, or even the funds to fill the stockings (receipts available), please drop them off from November 12 to December 23 at 84 Mill Street in Carleton Place, on Monday or Wednesday from 10am to noon, or Friday from 4:30–5:30pm. Suggested items include toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving cream, moisturizing lotion, soap, dental floss, deodorant and perhaps a small sweet. Please label the stockings as “his” or “hers”. You can also contact Sandy Schappert at 251-0642 or <sandyhank@bell.net>, and “Sandy Claus” will make sure your generosity puts a smile in someone’s heart this Christmas.
Just as the stunning golds and reds return to the trees alongside the Mississippi River each autumn, this time each year also brings back Arts Carleton Place’s successful annual art exhibition to the Canoe Club. On November 6 and 7, the Itty Bitty Arts and Crafts Sale will open from 10:30am to 4:30pm for visitors and lovers of original creations to once again be immersed into the creativity, culture and craft that shines in our community.
The Itty Bitty Arts and Crafts Sale is a tradition hosted by Arts Carleton Place — an opportunity for the public to be introduced to artists from our area and to support the arts. This year, twenty very different artists and artisans will be showing their creations in jewellery, pottery, word turning and wall art of all kinds. This sale exhibits a diversity of media and genres of art. The variety of use of colour, subject and theme is a quiet education, as well as a feast for the senses. Walking through the displays integrates you with the history and culture of the community. You may even become inspired yourself! It is a fantastic opportunity to meet the artists, talk to them about their work, and get inside the process of art making. You may as also pick up the perfect conversation piece for your wall, mantel or table.
Nothing is priced over $150 at the Itty-Bitty Arts and Crafts Sale. This is the perfect opportunity to start your holiday shopping for the special people on your list who deserve something one-of-a-kind and beautiful.
As always, parking is free at the Canoe Club. Admission to the show is also free, although contributions to Arts Carleton Place’s Bursary Program will be cheerfully accepted. This program provides one student from each of the two local high schools with a one-time grant to put towards their post-secondary education in a field affiliated with the arts.
Visitors and patrons must wear a face mask, maintain a physical distance of two metres, and sign-in to complete screening and contract tracing needs.
Due to Ontario Regulation 364/20, this year’s Itty-Bitty Arts and Crafts Sale will require all visitors and patrons entering the Canoe Club to provide identification and proof of being fully vaccinated. To enter the facility, visitors must have an electronic or hard copy of their vaccination receipt, confirming two doses received at least fourteen days prior to their visit. (Proof of vaccination requirements do not apply to children under 12 and patrons who present identification and a written document stating that the individual is exempt for a medical reason.)
Art… and Soul
Meed Barnett’s diminutive stature is very deceptive. This recent addition to Almonte’s art scene lives up to her favourite descriptor of herself and her art — feral. She is fierce and refuses to be domesticated in any of the conventional senses of the word. As an artist she refuses to be confined to any one style, medium or philosophy. Our interview begins with her declaration that she would just as soon be referred to as “they”, but will let me use “she” if I prefer. As a creature of long habit it is easier for me to refer to an individual with a singular pronoun, even though Meed is anything but single. She is happily married to Bob Barnett for 40 years, and they have a grown child working in high tech in Los Angeles of whom they are very proud.
Meed was born in Greenwich Village and was a “Roaring Beatnik” throughout her high school years. Her personal history is a striking example of a timeworn adage: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Before my attempt to condense her convoluted story onto one page, however, I want to commend and recommend her art. Barnett loves nature and she loves to create narrative art — art that tells a story. Many of her works in watercolour or coloured pencil evoke memories of her time spent growing up in Woodstock, NY, and her love of the Catskill Mountains. The area is an early and influential hotbed of arts, crafts and music in the eastern U.S.A. Barnett was particularly drawn to the Hudson River School of art. Her paintings reflect its influence, especially in her loving renditions of time spent roaming in the area of the Kaaterskill Clove, a distinctive feature or “cleft” in the mountains attracting tourists to this day. In addition to her celebrations of nature, another favourite subject is things reverting to nature such as ruins of old structures.
I’m pretty sure that the couple’s new home in downtown Almonte contains more paintings per square metre of wall space than any other house I have visited. About one third are treasured works by other artists, many to whom she is related. In addition, Meed has two studios: one for painting, and one for creating wearable art in the form of intricately beautiful jewellery she has hand-forged from copper, brass and sterling. The two necklaces she created to celebrate her wedding to Bob are exquisite. They are not for sale, but her treasure trove of necklaces, earrings and even belts could elevate your Christmas shopping to new heights.
Barnett’s bio provides an apt condensation of the highly entertaining account she shared with me of her life’s eclectic journey thus far. In her own words with a few minor edits: “Fourth-generation artist and craftsperson, I could hold brushes before I could hold a fork. Born in Greenwich Village, New York City, I was taken to Woodstock, NY, at age four, where I grew up surrounded by the art and influence of many fine painters who were working in the area at that time. The end of family life led to my many living arrangements in the Woodstock area, including an Episcopal convent and two European homes.
“My first art instruction came from my grandfather, Rudolf Wetterau, who worked out of New York City as an advertising artist and oil painter. At age 15, I won a summer scholarship to the Woodstock branch of the Art Students League of New York City (now the Woodstock School of Art), and later won all available high school graduation awards for art. I studied art at SUNY New Paltz, and years later at the University of Hawaii. I hand-finished large portrait photography at two Rochester, NY, studios for several years. With this and other jobs, I self-financed a BA (SUNY at Buffalo), and an MA (University of Hawaii).
“I was at times: a camp counselor, a welder, an English tutor, a full-time teacher, a retail administrator, a dishwasher, a portrait studio photofinisher, a dental assistant, a refugee resettlement worker, a singer, an art teacher, and of course an artist and illustrator. While in Honolulu I illustrated teaching materials for the State of Hawaii Public School System. After moving to Philadelphia, PA, I studied with Francis McCarthy at Fleischer Art Memorial.
“Marriage brought a move to southern New Jersey. I conducted a papier-mâché puppet theatre workshop with students at Atlantic County New School in 1990, culminating in a feature-length performance, and taught other art classes at the school. Over the years I have shown in many juried exhibitions, have had many one-person shows, and have won numerous awards, including several best-of-shows. I have judged in several important regional juried shows. For five years, I was the art teacher for grades K–8 at St. Nicholas Catholic School in Egg Harbor City. For eleven years, I maintained studios at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts in Millville, NJ, and in Galloway, NJ.”
Barnett credits her father’s father with setting her on the path to becoming an artist: “He was the biggest influence in my life.” Much of the upheaval in her past, after her mother’s disappearance from her life when Meed was only four years old, was the result of friction with the older women in her life. She was not “girly” enough to suit them, not interested in clothes and makeup, and thus “queer” in their eyes. She remains securely non-gender conforming, pleased that her father liked sewing, and comfortable that she loves cooking. She credits summers spent at a YWCA camp as her best experiences growing up. There were also three high school teachers who supported her belief in her own worth and talent. Meed was taught to play chess by Bobby Fischer, whom she remembers with deserved disaffection.
Meed Barnett is an extraordinary and extremely interesting person, an accomplished artist and jeweller, and, luckily for theHumm’s readership, happy to invite you into her home by appointment to share her story and her arts. Her coordinates appear on the back of her Artist Trading Card where I photographed her next to her collage painting of her mother.WHO Meed Barnett
Artist Trading Card
MERA’s annual Christmas Fair returns this year to the Schoolhouse at 974 Dalhousie Concession 9A in McDonalds Corners on Saturday, November 20 from 9am to 3pm. MERA (McDonalds Corners & Elphin Recreation & Arts) is a space in Lanark Highlands committed to connecting community members through the arts. All Covid protocols will be in place. Patrons can socialize and warm up by the outdoor bonfire with a cup of hot cider.
Nestled in the heart of McDonalds Corners, the MERA Schoolhouse is a hub for creative community members. Enjoy the festive, rural atmosphere and find an original one-of-a-kind creation. This year’s Christmas Fair includes handwoven fashions by Heather Sherratt, locally-made jams by Barb Flynn, fine chocolate by Ludwig, Blue Moon Fashions by Nicola Webb, Critters and Tails by Molly Forsythe, acrylic paintings by Greta McDonald, needle felting by Rosie Kotze, jewellery by PJ Wilson, woodworking by Barry Russell, natural wreaths by Emily Kszan, and many more treasures from the MERA Pottery Studio, Fibre Artists, Art Circle and Heritage Weavers.
By shopping at the MERA Christmas Fair you are helping your local arts and recreation facility to host music events, workshops, community dinners and much more.
Please visit <meraschoolhouse.org> for more information.
There’s an exciting development in the downtown Perth retail sector. The Bookworm, Perth’s beloved used bookstore, is undergoing some significant changes as new proprietors Peter Dixon, Heidi Stepanek and Skye Dixon Stepanek take on the challenge of respecting this thirty-year Perth landmark, while also infusing it with some fresh energy and new ideas.
Since taking ownership, Heidi, Peter and Skye have been busy doing some reorganizing of the store, restocking the previously-read bookshelves, and bringing in a variety of new products. Come November the store will be re-branded as “Spark books & curios.”
As well as maintaining its traditional stock of gently read books, the store now also features new books for adults and younger readers, including many current best-sellers. In addition to books, Spark now carries Bachmann and Lionel train sets and accessories, and an exciting new collection of innovative wooden model kits suitable for adults and older children. These intricately designed projects feature laser-cut pieces, and a variety of choices are available such as a perpetual motion marble run, moving Ferris wheel, and merry-go-round music box, and even a movie projector that plays a Charlie Chaplin film once constructed. There are also detailed miniature house kits that even involve building the furniture and assembling working LED light fixtures. These and an assortment of other curios, such as Harry Potter pocket watches, a magically floating “Up” LEGO house, and Alice in Wonderland throw cushions, are all designed to “spark” the imagination and fill many a rainy afternoon.
Pop in for some magic and inspiration, and for a good conversation! Spark is located at 76 Foster Street in Perth. For more information, call 466–0555 or visit <sparkperth.ca>.
Like many other theatre groups in and around the area, The Station Theatre in Smiths Falls will be opening once again for theatre lovers who have been waiting a long time to be entertained, as well as the actors and directors who are ready to entertain the masses — safely and carefully!
We had great success putting together our virtual Norm Foster play Here on the Flightpath earlier this year — we definitely wanted the audience to know that we were thinking of them. But after a summer trial of live entertainment with the rental of Clockwork Mysteries at the theatre, it was proven that people were ready to come out and see a show — as long as they felt safe. This allowed the SFCT to plan an evening of one-act plays. And who better to do that with but the Canadian “King of Comedy”, Norm Foster!
Foster’s One Actmanship is a delightful evening of two of his hilarious one-act plays. My Narrator finds Miles (Rich Croteau) and Lacy (Katharine Coleman) rather unlucky in love. With the help of their internal narrators, Bob (Jerry Logan) and Barb (Liz Steinberg), maybe they just might find a connection. In The Death of Me, John (Jamie Schoular) finds himself, well, dead. He convinces the Angel of Death (Emily Starks) to let him return to earth for 24 hours to try to deal with some unresolved issues. While speaking with his ex-fiancée Cassie (Mandi Reed) and his heart doctor (James Benda), John tries to stop history from repeating itself.
We are all very excited to be performing for you live! It will be a fun night of comedy.
All Covid protocols will be in place, including the requirement of everyone attending to show proof of vaccination + 14 days and masks will be required the whole time you are in the building.
Please note, although the province has announced that theatre spaces are allowed 100% capacity, we aren’t quite ready to go back to “the way it was” yet. We want the audience to feel as comfortable as possible. And even though everyone in attendance will be vaccinated and wearing masks, it’s still a bit daunting for some to be in close proximity to people you don’t know. That is why we are working to keep our seating spaced out enough that there shouldn’t be anyone immediately in front or behind you. As well, each ticket order gets their own row. There is no point in us working to put a show on if the audience isn’t comfortable enough to enjoy it fully!
The show runs Friday and Saturday, November 19 and 20, at 7:30pm, with a matinée on Sunday, November 21 at 2pm.The second weekend runs Thursday through Saturday, November 25–27, at 7:30pm and finishes up with a matinée on Sunday, November 28 at 2pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students. We are also accepting our 2020 Season vouchers. For this show, tickets can be ordered online with a credit card or PayPal. You can also order your tickets by phone at 283–0300. Telephone is the best option if you are using vouchers, wanting to pay by cash, or if you have special seating requirements or requests. Just leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible. If tickets are still available, they can also be purchased with cash a half-hour before showtime at the door, 53 Victoria Avenue. For more information, please visit <smithsfallstheatre.com>. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Station Theatre!
For ten years, the Rideau Environmental Action League (REAL) held a popular local foods dinner in Smiths Falls that included a silent auction component. While the fall feast is not feasible in these Covid times, REAL is hoping to recoup some of the monies usually raised with an online option. Last year’s online auction raised over $2,100 and attracted sponsorships from many of REAL’s loyal supporters, adding $1,000 to the total.
Currently over 80 items are posted, including collectibles, art, yard and garden, housewares, appliances and a few Christmas items. Many are gently used items donated to the REAL Deal store, and some are donated from area businesses and friends. These are all very reasonably priced items with low starting bids, so that almost everyone should have a chance to be a successful bidder and “take something home”.
Participating is easy. Anyone can go to the auction site at <32auctions.com/REAL2021> on their phone or computer and establish an account using their email address. Bidding starts at 9am on November 1 and ends at 9pm on November 13, when the highest bidders will be notified. Participants can bid as often as they like and be notified when someone tops their bid so they can try again. The winners will need to come pick up their treasures at the REAL Deal Store, 85 William St. W., Smiths Falls, preferably between November 17 and 20. Payment can be made in person by cash, debit, Visa or Mastercard. An e-transfer option is also available.
Contributions of auction items are still welcome, as entries can be added even after the auction has started. Services, home preserves, crafts, eco-friendly gifts and gift certificates are all possibilities. Contact Donna at <andisondj@gmail.com> if you have something to offer.
REAL has been active in Lanark, Leeds and Grenville since 1989. Projects include last summer’s Smiths Falls Depave project, home energy audits, a community garden, workshops, and the REAL Deal Reuse Store and its associated waste reduction activities. On October 1 the group launched their latest project, a tool lending library. For more on REAL’s activities, please visit <REALaction.ca>.
Have some fun bidding on some terrific items, maybe get a start on your Christmas shopping, and help REAL finance its many environmental projects. Get started here: <32auctions.com/REAL2021>.
The Perth Farmers’ Market returns for a Christmas-oriented edition on Sunday, November 21 from 10am to 3pm at the Crystal Palace in downtown Perth. This market brings a diversity of vendors and items including returning market vendors as well as new local artisans and crafters just for this event.
This market is unique in that it combines so many different items in one place. There will be growers with some of their home grown produce, food vendors with edible treats, artisans and crafters who can help you find that special handmade local gift. With over forty vendors inside and outside the Crystal Palace there will be lots of room to browse, but please dress according to the weather! As in past years there will be a bonfire and seasonal music to get everyone in the spirit. All Covid protocols will be in place — as a retail event a vaccine passport is not required, but masks must be worn inside the building. Organizers hope that you will enjoy this taste of Christmas in beautiful downtown Perth!
Please go to <perthfarmersmarket.ca/events> for more details, or find Perth Farmers Market on Facebook or Instagram.
When Emily Prospero opened her eco-conscious coffee shop in Pakenham in late September, her focus was razor-sharp: to create a sustainable approach to the coffee shop model, providing unmatched goods and service while maintaining as low a carbon footprint as possible.
Refreshingly, enthusiastically, she is doing just that.
But Keepers Coffee Bar is much more than your average coffee shop. “Our name represents my philosophy in life, and so in business,” Prospero explains. “Instead of fast fashion, I value well-made vintage; instead of mass-produced cookies, I make them by hand. Instead of older and less expensive beans, I brew expertly, freshly locally roasted coffee. I’m a seed saver, a record keeper, a flower picker and a recipe hunter.”
“The shop is a sentimental nod to the past and a bold leap into the future,” she adds, “one in which we look at our resources as precious and we celebrate them.”
Everything in and about the shop — the fair trade coffee, the locally-grown plants, the eclectic blend of wares made by local artisans, as well as upcycled vintage housewares and textiles — is as eco-conscious and eco-friendly as possible.
“The shop is almost 100% upcycled,” says Prospero, “from its vintage Westinghouse fridge to the reclaimed wood bar to the vintage plant pots that we stock on our shelves. 90% of our baked treats are plant based, which means I avoid dairy products and eggs in order to help reduce the shop’s carbon footprint. All the packaging products I use are paper, not plastic, or they are compostable. The coffee bags I receive from Snark Roastery are returned and reused and our recent collaboration with Little Sisters Design Co. allowed us to design very chic bags using one of my favourite vintage textiles!”
Keepers also sells plants, “because they are a natural reminder of our connection to our eco-system and of course, brighten any space.”
If this approach sounds good to you, you’re not alone. Since opening just over a month ago, it’s clear lots of people like Prospero’s heartfelt and eco-conscious approach. “I am very pleased to say that many of our customers share these values,” Prospero reports, “and even bring in their own travel mugs or tell me to save the paper bag.”
So what exactly will you find when you visit Keepers? Essentially: delicious espresso, coffee, tea and fresh house-made pastries — as well as a whole lot of very neat stuff. “I curate an ever-evolving collection of vintage housewares and eclectic textiles,” Prospero explains. “I like to bring in items that are classic in design and natural in their material, such as wood, glass, metal or ceramic. The pieces I sell are timeless and would feel just right in any contemporary home.”
Emily attended the Yukon School of Visual Arts, where she became enthralled with found objects and sculpture. This makes her uniquely qualified to have a good eye for vintage wares.
Some of those items are featured on Keepers’ Etsy shop, which you can access from <keeperscoffeebar.com>. Some of the newer fair trade items and handmade pieces can be found at <keeperscoffee.square.site>.
You will find botanicals and vintage pieces at Keepers, but also fair trade products from companies such as Ten Thousand Villages and Pokoloko, a company who, Prospero is happy to say, “happens to plant two trees for every purchase!”
The shop also carries items made by local artisans, such as Opeongo Soaps, Ryley Beeswax Candles and Snark Roastery. Prospero is currently looking to source local ceramic mugs as well as some honey products. “That’s the most wonderful thing about this kind of shop in the Ottawa Valley — I get to celebrate and showcase amazing artisans and artists!”
Keepers Coffee Bar serves delicious house-made pastries, mostly vegan and some gluten-free options (after studying Visual Arts up north, Emily returned to the Ottawa Valley to pursue a career in baking, which serves her quite well now), and their espresso bar showcases locally roasted beans and Sloane premium tea. Lovers of all things vintage are sure to love Keepers’ unique and eclectic items. In fact, a visit to Keepers might just be the thing for folks looking for one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts. You will find them at 2544A County Road No. 29, not far from Pakenham Beach.
Having been a long-time resident of the Ottawa Valley — cottaging in Arnprior since she was a child and then buying her first home in Almonte, and now Pakenham — Emily knows the local community well. Her appreciation of the community continues to grow every year.
Since moving to Pakenham and opening her shop, she’s been moved by the village’s innate desire to share and welcome. “I have never really experienced anything like it, and I feel like this is a natural progression in our society. I hope everyone gets a chance to feel this kind of communal support,” she says, “it’s very moving and inspiring on a daily basis.”
Artists and volunteers will be collaborating on a one-day “pop up” Holiday Art Sale of reimagined vintage textiles and prints on Sunday, November 21 from 10am to 5pm at the Hub’s Rebound store, located at 79 Bridge Street in Almonte. 100% of the proceeds from this sale will go to support local charities.
The Rebound receives donations of hundreds of frames, many of which would end up in landfill. A creative team of artists and volunteers artfully stacked multiple frames to create unique housing for vintage textiles and art prints. Often frame surfaces were altered in the process of creating. Many different styles and sizes of work will be on offer for purchase.
The creative team that worked on this project will be present during the sale to explain the process of reuse, aesthetic choices and invention. Please visit <thehubalmonte.com> for more information. Covid protocols apply.
Over at the Northwind Wireless Fibe Centre in Constance Bay, Rural Root Theatre Company is having a blast rehearsing for The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby by Norm Foster, directed by Helen and Martin Weeden. Performances will take place on November 7 at 2pm, and from November 9 to 13 at 7:30pm.
The cast includes Ian Glen playing Kirk, Arya Landers as Melanie, Judy Bastable as Ronda, Melanie Matheson as Sienna, and Tyler Watt, a newcomer to Rural Root stage, in the role of James Bell.
When big city financial investor James Bell’s car breaks down on the way to a conference, he gets stranded in a small town on Kooshog Lake on its busiest weekend of the year. It’s the annual Fishing Derby, when people from all over come to try to catch the legendary uncatchable fish, Hollis McCauley, for a jackpot worth over $90,000.
As he tries to get a ride out of town, James meets a number of colourful locals including grocery store owner Sienna, mechanic and derby organizer Kirk Douglas, sexpot Rhonda Borkowski, and lonely antique dealer Melanie Morningside. Upon accepting his fate that he is not getting a ride out of town, James gives in to his predicament and takes in the festivities.
Soon the people he meets outside Sienna’s Grocery go from being strangers to friends, and James begins to realize that perhaps there is a better way to live than in the hustle and bustle of the big city. But as he begins to grow closer to Melanie, his lack of understanding of the rules of the fishing derby threatens to destroy everything that is special about Lake Kooshog.
It’s been a while since local theatre-lovers have been able to enjoy a production of this scale, but Tickets Please can hook you up with a ticket (or tuna) — visit <ticketsplease.ca> or drop them a line at 485–6434. Bring a friend — or a grouper of them — just for the halibut!
Here at theHumm we’re big on local economies. The retail and service businesses in the small towns that we cover play a huge role in the cultural life of those towns. Each store, restaurant, or small enterprise attracts and serves a particular clientele — some inside the community, some from outside. Some businesses host their own special events; others join together with local festivals to make the whole experience more vibrant. Many provide support in cash or in kind to local initiatives. All of them add their own particular flavour to the delicious mix that is small-town Ottawa Valley. A healthy local economy is an essential component to a healthy community.
It is with this in mind that we bring you theHumm’s 21st annual Gift Giving Guide, one month earlier than usual! We decided to put a special focus on our local small businesses in both November and December, because they still need all the support local shoppers can give them to make it through these unprecedented times.
Our hope is that you’ll find two kinds of inspiration in the many lists that appear throughout this month’s issue. As you peruse the “Gifts to Lift the Spirits”, “Gifts Made in the Valley” and “Gifts for Funky People”, we hope you’ll discover the perfect present for everyone on your list. But we also hope that you’ll be inspired to investigate even more of the independent, locally owned and run businesses throughout our coverage area. In doing so, you’re likely to encounter not only friends and neighbours, but also some old-fashioned small town peace and joy —not to mention amazing customer service!
The gifts we buy locally do double-duty by giving pleasure to the recipient and at the same time supporting the business of a friend or neighbour. Many shops and galleries feature works by area creators and/or gifts that are eco-friendly. The money you spend in your community tends to circulate back into the local economy too, so you’ll be contributing to a wonderful ripple effect.
We would like to thank the participating merchants for taking the time to send in their Gift Giving Guide suggestions, and to thank our readers for shopping locally and thereby supporting both the shops and our paper. We will be featuring photos of many of the items on these lists on social media and in upcoming editions of Hummail.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy holiday season!
Two years ago, Rob and Kris Riendeau (aka Humm Team Productions) presented their show Who Stole Christmas from Mississippi Mills at the Almonte Old Town Hall. That musical parody sold out all five performances and was a ton of fun for all involved. This December they are back with their new undertaking, Sketchy Santa. Rob Riendeau of theHumm caught up with head writer of Humm Team Productions, Rob Riendeau, to get the inside scoop on the new show.
theHumm: So, what’s the inside scoop on the new show?
Rob Riendeau: Well, two years ago, we had so much fun putting on Who Stole Christmas that we immediately booked the Almonte Old Town Hall for two weekends in December of 2021. Our original plan was to put on another full-scale, big-production, original musical. The pandemic kind of took the wind out of our sails for that show, but I do have a couple of scenes written and we will probably put it on one day.
Meanwhile, Kris and I stayed active theatrically over Zoom. I took some writing courses. Kris and I gave some writing workshops, and we presented an evening of short plays on Zoom for Hallowe’en last year. At some point, we decided that if it was at all possible, an evening of sketches at the Old Town Hall would be a fun and do-able project. I sort of envisaged a cross between Saturday Night Live and The Muppet Show.
What makes an evening of sketches a more do-able project?
Great question, Rob. By focusing on one sketch at a time, we could keep the rehearsals limited to a small group (with masks on). We were also able to make use of several of the sketches that I wrote during the lockdown that had never seen the light of day. And we were able to open up the writing to more people. This show features a sketch by Zach Brown, who participated in our writing workshop.
I have heard that Zach’s sketch is great! Really worth the price of admission all on its own. A real laugh riot! People are saying it will be the highlight of the show!
Sure.
So, are there any other talented people involved in writing the show?
Umm… well… Kris Riendeau wrote a very funny sketch as well. And Mike McCormick, who was a big part of the success of Who Stole Christmas, wrote the music and reworked some of the lyrics for the song This Is Not a Musical in this show.
He fixed your lyrics?
I wouldn’t say “fixed”…
He would. So, is this a musical?
No, it is definitely not a musical! We just couldn’t afford the expense of doing music… as we explain in the big musical production number This Is Not a Musical.
So, no jingles like in Who Stole Christmas?
There might be a few jingles that sneak in from time to time.
Oh good! The Jingle Belles and the jingles were one of my favourite parts of the last show!
Yeah, I didn’t write those either. That was all Bonnie Valentyne.
She’s really funny!
How many more questions are there?
We’re nearly done. So, how can people get tickets?
People can head to <ticketsplease.ca> to order their tickets, or call 485–6434 if they want to go old-school. And if they order before November 15, they save $5 with our early bird special!
What happens after November 15?
Then we shift to “late bird” regular pricing. Don’t be a late bird.
And do any of the proceeds go to a good cause?
Oh yes! This show is a fundraiser for Pop Up Puppets Up — the group that is currently working on bring the beloved puppet festival back to downtown Almonte in the summer of 2022!
Does that mean that there are hilarious puppeteers involved? I’m a big fan of Stephen Brathwaite’s comedic genius.
Yes. I think we’re done here.
Thanks Rob! Can’t wait to see the show. This is Rob Riendeau, signing off.
Danielle K Grégoire is a person on a mission. And although their “Curious and Kind” dream may have been altered by the recent pandemic, they remain undaunted and are rising, phoenix-like, from the restrictions with plans for a new physical location and regular showcases at the Almonte Old Town Hall.
Curious and Kind (C&K) made a brief but memorable début in Almonte a few months before Covid kicked the butts of local performers and venues. Part performance space and part social enterprise, it was a true community hub where everyone was welcome, and creativity flourished. After a pandemic-induced hiatus, Danielle is beyond excited to be bringing C&K back — this time to 98 Mill Street in Almonte (formerly Tea and Cake). This cozy spot, with its commercial kitchen at the back, is the perfect place for Danielle to welcome people in to chat, have a coffee or a bowl of soup, and get creative!
If this doesn’t sound like a typical business plan to you, that’s because Danielle is not a typical businessperson (in fact, they’re not really a typical anything!). Their calling is to create a welcoming atmosphere where folks of all stripes can hang out, make or learn art of any kind, and connect with others. The only stipulation is that they be curious… and kind!
Having moved to Almonte as a young mother, Danielle recalls starting many days with a stop at The Miller’s Tale book shop, chatting at length with owner Chris O’Brien, and relying on his friendly and outgoing way of drawing people into many aspects of the local community. Now Danielle wants to take up that torch. Curious and Kind will be moving into 98 Mill Street on November 1, and Danielle welcomes people to drop in if the lights are on, check out Curious and Kind on Facebook or Instagram, or email <curiousandkindalmonte@gmail.com> for more details.
Curious and Kind Presents
Many locals also know Danielle as the person who brought spoken word poetry to Lanark County. As a founding member of the Lanark Live Poets’ Society (LiPS), they worked to bring the first rural team to ever compete nationally in the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. With an appreciation of all performing art forms — stand-up comedy, improv, storytelling and spoken word among them — Danielle has also booked the Almonte Old Town Hall on the second Monday evening of each month for a showcase called “Curious and Kind Presents”. Shows will feature short acts by anyone who has engaged with C&K and wants to bring their creativity to the stage, as well as a featured act or two. In Danielle’s words, it is “A monthly showcase of folks trying new things, emerging performance artists and brilliant performers who’ve been at it awhile. Anything from improv to stand-up comedy, storytelling and music, authors, poets, and things that can’t quite be categorized. You never really know what might happen, but you can be certain it’ll be kind, and curious.”
All shows will go from 7pm to about 8:30, and doors will open at 6:30. Tickets are $20 from Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434), but no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Monies raised will go toward paying for the venue, the performers, and creating affordable programming at 98 Mill Street.
The first show, taking place on Monday, November 8, has an amazing line-up and a very special theme. The event will be a tribute to Inez Dekker, who passed away this past October. Inez was an original member of LiPS and was known for challenging the rule that poets “have to memorize” their poetry in order to perform spoken word. As Danielle explains, “this is an ableist rule, and Inez’s poems were powerful — a lot of them dealt with aging in a community where she would have been one of our eldest poets. Above all, she was my friend, and gave really good hugs.”
During the event, spoken word performer b!WILDer will do some grief clowning, musician Amanda Lowe W. will perform, and author Suzanne Evan will read from her new book A Taste of Longing, which won the Foreword Reviews INDIES Book of the Year Award for 2020.
So grab your tickets to this amazing show at <ticketsplease.ca>, and drop in to 98 Mill Street to say “hi” to Danielle and contribute to the creativity blossoming there!
It’s safe to say that, for those of us who live in Mississippi Mills, this storied place has many charms. If not from here, you might have noticed it yourself. One is Mill Street in Almonte, which a few years ago caught the eyes of Canadian radio icon Stuart McLean (1948-2017) of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Stuart, best known for the humour and affection played out in The Vinyl Café, worked the magic of stories into our lives, and fell in love with meandering Mill Street.
In July 2013, Stuart recorded segments of The Vinyl Café in the Old Town Hall. In preparation for the anticipated monologue, Stuart spent time wandering the streets and pondering the stories being told through the architecture, businesses, people and power of a town founded on the tumble of a river. The result captured the life of the town and the imagination of those who heard it that day, and on repeated national broadcastings.
Did you hear it? Were you there? For Brent Eades of the Millstone News, the memory is fresh: “I’ve had many wonderful moments in this town since moving here thirty-four years ago. But few can top being in the front row for Stuart’s 2013 Vinyl Café show, hearing him say “that is why I fell in love with Almonte the moment I arrived” and the eloquent essay that followed. The applause was huge, a roar of pride for this place we call home. It still moves me, and I listen to it often.”
When Stuart spoke that day, I wondered why he found a clear link between Mill Street and one of his favourite authors, E.B. White. You know him as co-author of The Elements of Style — rules for the writer within — or as the author of Charlotte’s Web, to name a few. White was quoted: “All that I hope to say in books, all that I ever hope to say, is that I love the world.” Perhaps that’s the bridge between them — as Stuart loved Canada’s world from sea-to-sea-to-sea as much as he liked clarity of the written word. He saw the street as a perfect composition.
“…Mill Street follows the 17th rule. It has the vigor of brevity. It also has the allure of mystery. Because unlike all the other main streets that I can think of, Mill Street falls down a hill. And not only that. Before it travels hardly a comma’s distance, it curves like a comma — in the European way. So when you stand at the top of the street, as I did that Sunday evening, and you see it falling gracefully away, it disappears from your view, like a bending river — and the thing that comes to mind… or the thing that came to mine is… what’s around the corner?”
Now, to erect a sign is not new. We need our stories and folk have come together over time to tell them. Signs start on those highways into town, guiding you to this place, sublime along the Mississippi River. When here, as Stuart found it, old stories and new invite exploration and an understanding of time having shaped us in so many ways.
What a pleasure it’s been to see the county, town and local interests install a parade of historical signs. They unpack the industrial and heritage history so that whispers of working lives and economies walk with you as you complete the Riverwalk and climb down the Worker’s Stairway towards the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum. Tales of terrible loss — such as the monument that anchors Mill Street and shares the story of the railway crash of ’42 that still touches so many lives and deserves remembrance. The signs down in the Metcalfe Geoheritage Park, excavating stories of the geological foundations upon which we built. Don’t forget the painted murals either, or the signs of Indigenous history and the Brothers of the Wind (R. Tait McKenzie and James Naismith) among others, a peek into those people whose lives contributed to life here. The layering of history is part of us. We celebrate those people and places that gave us a vibrant personality well rooted in farms, factories, folk, businesses, creativity.
Stuart knew this and saw the very street and buildings as characters in this tale.
“Mill is the best kind of street: curving and mysterious. A street that has had years to find itself. A street that sprung from dreams rather than schemes, slowly emerging brick by brick from the aspirations of the many rather than the stroke of some planner’s pen. The curve was surely the curve of a path in some day gone by. The street we are walking down surely follows the footsteps of some old soul as they struggled up in those days before there were balconies for ladies to wave from.”
So I spoke to Stephen Brathwaite — local artist, sculptor, puppeteer, heritage redeveloper and man who cares about the downtown. We both recognized that Stuart’s thoughtful evocation was yet another chapter for Almonte — a view from the outside looking in. Collaboration meant working closely with Louise Curtis, co-producer of the CBC Vinyl Café and with the estate of Stuart McLean; with the town of Mississippi Mills and Tiffany MacLaren; with Blair Olson of PxlWorks; installers Rod Thomson & Paul Laforce; and a nod from John McQuarrie and Mill Street Books to use their photos of Stuart and the street.
Canada lost Stuart much too early, and the affection for his support of Canadian people and places lives on. Check out his words at the top of Mill Street and Bridge Street, tucked between a tree, a bench and a store front, perfect for contemplating life’s moments — then and now.
Thanks Stuart. And say “hi” to Morley and Dave, will you?
Funny, intelligent and surprisingly timely, Educating Rita by Willy Russell is Studio Theatre Perth’s perfect return to live theatre. Starving theatre-lovers are invited to take their seats for this two-handed dramedy exploring freedom and connection, which opens on November 18.
“It’s one of my favourite plays. I was the one who brought the play forward for production,” explains Jane Stott, Studio Theatre Perth’s artistic director and the play’s director. “I love a two-hander because we don’t have to worry about a whole bunch of special effects or sets or costumes and can focus on the characters and the action.”
The play kicks off when a mouthy hairdresser crashes into a university professor’s office on a quest to become “a different type of girl”.
“Rita is real, she has a lot of depth to her, I don’t feel like I’m reading a character so much as a story about a real person,” says Kiara Côté, the Canterbury student taking on the gargantuan role of Rita.
Frank the professor is brought to life by Patrick Bugby, a newly arrived Perth resident. His challenge is to portray the burnt out, disillusioned, would-be poet who will set Rita free from the circumstances of her birth.
“It is one of my oldest acts — the old curmudgeon. Frank is an easy role to fall into, he’s got a similar background on his artistic side and his sense of humour is very similar to mine,” says Bugby, who has a good 15 years of acting experience under his belt.
Stott’s focus has been on guiding her actors through the character development essential to bringing this play to life. “Jane knows the play really well, she knows the characters really well, but is open to hear how we see the characters as well,” explains Côté. “She’s really good at taking our vision of the characters and merging them with hers,” agrees Bugby.
In a broad sense this play focuses on the lives of two disparate characters, thrown together by bureaucratic accident. Rita’s hunger and determination to improve herself is contagious, while Frank’s flailing attempts to gain control of his job, his love life and his drinking threaten to derail them both. While two-handers can be tricky to pull off successfully, Stott is confident in her cast. “I think what struck me the most about these two during auditions was the chemistry between them,” she notes.
Perth Studio Theatre’s Educating Rita hits the boards on November 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30pm; and on November 21 and 28 at 2pm. Reserved seating with distancing is being offered.
“For this play we have opted for seating in pairs, with two seats between each pair of seats, with the rows in front and behind being staggered, so that no one is directly in front of or behind you,” explains Stott.
Tickets are $24 and can be purchased through Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485-6434) or at the door on performance nights. Please be advised you will be required to show proof of double vaccination before entering the theatre.
Many in our community became aware of The Blakeney Project of the Lanark County Food Bank (branded as The Hunger Stop) by walking, cycling or driving past our two-acre field that fronts on Blakeney Road on the east side of Blakeney. The field is now mainly brown as fall clean-up is largely complete; however, through the growing season there were large areas of verdant squash, 34 rows of potatoes lined up in military precision, a central circle with corn and flowers reaching to the sky, large areas of sweet corn and a lush irrigated section with tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, chard, carrots, kale, onions, leeks and herbs.
We were very fortunate to have created a visually appealing garden thanks to our design team, endless hours of planting and weeding by volunteers, and of course by the natural beauty of the site that borders on a ravine.
Okay, so it was pretty to look at, but did it produce nutritious local organic food in abundance for our communities? You may have heard the warning to keep your car locked to foil desperate gardeners who would fill it with an over-abundance of zucchini and tomatoes. Well, there is truth in that — our garden produced far beyond our wildest expectations. Food Bank volunteers who were processing and freezing veggies reached their limit by mid-September!
In its first year, we envisioned the Blakeney Project as an experiment — plant a bunch of stuff, see if we could attract several crews of volunteers, see if we could control weeds and see what we could harvest. Next year our Board of Directors and Manager are insisting on a bit more planning and that we learn to say “no” to donors who offer thousands of their surplus seedlings. Apparently we didn’t really need 150 eggplant seedlings or 120 basil plants!
There were a few hiccups along the way — we had to wait for the field to dry, we had delays in setting up the irrigation system and we had a paucity of rain in May and June — but boy-oh-boy the harvest exceeded expectations. By the middle of October we had passed the 18,000-pound mark. The results were not even — all the cucumber plants died and the eggplant did not set fruit, but there was an overwhelming harvest of beans, zucchini and tomatoes. The potatoes performed about as expected (4,000 pounds) and the squash (mostly butternut) harvest left us gasping for breath.
Large areas were planted with squash to cover bare ground, to choke out weeds, and because it is a relatively low-maintenance crop. The results were astounding — 7,500 pounds of squash — while the Food Bank only could handle 2,500 pounds. We were not able to find any local agencies that could use this bounty, so we turned to our neighbours in Ottawa. The Ottawa Community Food Partnership and the Kosher Food Bank were very happy to pick up our 5,000 pounds of surplus squash!
A bit of history on the project. Very generous landowners and grant money from federally funded programs allowed us to transform a two-acre field into a gardening paradise. The land is a small irregularly shaped parcel that is not suitable for modern industrial agriculture. For the last twenty or more years it had been used mainly for sheep pasturing. An important aspect for us, and one that matters to many of our clients, is that the field has been farmed organically. We were able to purchase a large rototiller, a lawn tractor, a yard cart, hand tools, large water tanks, work benches, a work shed and an irrigation system. We were also able to get a large quantity of organic straw, seeds and seedlings.
The Blakeney Project has two key components — the two-acre field and a 3000-square-foot pole barn — however, they are separated by about 700 feet! Our initial feeling was that the distance made it impossible to be a cohesive whole, and we debated whether we would include the barn. Finally we decided to include it, and are we ever glad we did. It was key to our irrigation system and it serves so many other uses including lockable storage for tools and equipment, storage for straw, room to lay out vegetables to dry and cure, and work area for volunteers. Over the summer we have been busily constructing a work shed at the opposite end of the field.
Back to the irrigation system. The most challenging aspect of the project has been water. We have no water at the field so decided to buy three 1250 Imperial gallon tanks, install eavestroughs on both sides of the barn, and install downspouts into the tanks which are interconnected with hose and then connected to a pump that drives water 700 feet through a hose to our drip irrigation system in the field. Our system, which was designed by irrigation specialists near Montreal, has performed admirably. One inch of rain will provide 7,000 litres of water.
We have had around fifty volunteers involved in different aspects of the project. There are about thirty frontline volunteers who got down and dirty with a three-hour shift once a week. While some were experienced, most were not. I like to think that we are helping to create our next generation of Horticultural Club members and future Master Gardeners. If you are interested in being part of our project in the future, please phone the Lanark County Food Bank (the Hunger Stop) at 257–8546.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me this year — whether it’s the anxious whispers of inflation or supply shortages or just the general scarcity mentality that has permeated the pandemic — but I’m catching myself worrying about having enough for Christmas. Something in my gut wants to buy stuff, as if having enough toys and gifts will fill me up with joy and love and wonder and peace. But even the Grinch has taught me that “Christmas doesn’t come from a store... Christmas means a little bit more”. It’s not the stuff that makes this season magical, but the traditions old and new, community experiences, quality time with family and friends, and the giving... not the getting!
So this is my list of what not to buy to fill up with Christmas cheer... by singing loud for all to hear! Oh, and when buying is necessary, support local of course!
The Gifts of Christmas Cheer in the Valley
Plan a kindness advent calendar to do something kind each day counting down to Christmas — think about friends and neighbours, creatures and the earth, and you too! We all need an extra dose of kindness at this time of year.
Take your kids to cut their own tree at the Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm or your local spot and watch the wonder on their faces.
Make homemade decorations of salt dough ornaments, popcorn strings or dried orange garlands and relax into the absolute messiness of crafting with kids.
Go carolling outside a seniors’ residence or join a Christmas choir. If that’s too intimidating, then just blast some holiday tunes while making dinner or in the shower!
Gift a turkey dinner to a family in your neighbourhood (or just any dinner, since nearly every family I know is feeling the pandemic burnout).
Bake cookies for friends to share over a hot cup and conversation, or host an old-fashioned cookie swap!
Go sledding... or skating... or skiing... or snowshoeing... or just play in the snow the way you loved to as a kid!
Attend a candlelight service or sit in silence to let the spirit of the season sink in a little deeper.
Decorate your front porch to spread cheer and light to those passing by.
Binge-watch Christmas movies filmed in the Valley and try to spot local sites.
Keep an old family tradition alive or break tradition with a new holiday practice from around the world.
Borrow holiday books, magazines and movies from your local library branch.
Take a deep breath and remember that we have enough... and lots more to give this season. Happy holidays!
For many the month of November means the launch of one of the most exciting (and expensive) times of the year: holiday shopping season. This is the time when people begin thinking about Christmas gifts and what to buy for friends and loved ones.
This year marks the second Christmas since the Covid-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, and in some ways it’s the most important for small businesses. After a year-and-a-half of lockdowns, complete closures, loss of staff, and the vaccine passport, small businesses have been struggling to survive.
Here in Lanark County, we are fortunate to have had such strong support for our businesses. Time and again, local support has come to the forefront and kept our businesses open. Now it’s time to make sure this continues.
Towards that end, the Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Smiths Falls & District Chamber of Commerce and the Perth & District Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new “Think Local” campaign in Lanark County.
Think Local is a community-building resource bringing together the nine communities within Lanark County: Mississippi Mills, Carleton Place, Beckwith, Perth, Smiths Falls, Montague, Drummond North Elmsley, Tay Valley and Lanark Highlands.
“We’re creating a resource that people can use to find local businesses in our community,” explains Jackie Kavanagh, General Manager of the Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce. “We want you to think local before you look for a shop, restaurant, contractor or chiropractor, for example. We have more than enough resources in the community for everyone to access.”
Think Local invites the community to think about local businesses before purchasing products and services. The Think Local website <thinklocallanark.com> will inspire visitors to commit to supporting local and being part of the region’s economic recovery from the pandemic.
Purchasing goods and services locally has a direct impact on the prosperity of a region. Research has shown that for every $100 spent at a local business, approximately $68 is funnelled back into the local economy, supporting area non-profits and community groups, and maintaining business diversity.
“Thinking locally before making purchases or contracting for services ensures the Lanark County community stays strong both in good times and in challenging times,” says Kavanagh. “By encouraging residents to keep funds in the area, the project will contribute to a thriving and diverse community that will be here for years to come.”
You are invited to an evening gala… at home! The past two years have presented many challenges, so the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor (AGH FVM) Foundation has turned them into exciting opportunities that will continue to support patient and resident care at the hospital and manor.
The Board and staff of the Foundation are excited to present their second Evening at Home Gala — a fundraiser that features sumptuous food prepared by Almonte’s Bouffage Kitchen, on Saturday, November 20 beginning at 6pm.
Your gala experience will include so many wonderful sights, sounds and tastes! Indulge in mouth-watering small plates prepared with fresh local ingredients highlighting the culinary specialties of the chefs that work and live in our community. Enjoy shaved beef with mini-Yorkshire pudding garnished with sundried tomato mousse and horseradish aioli, spiced shrimp with lemon, and grilled polenta cake with vegetable ratatouille and pesto, to name but a few of the gastronomical delights to be presented.
Sit back and enjoy a concert by friends from Rip Roar Music: Tracey Brown, Kelly Prescott, Wayne Rostad and friends, broadcast via YouTube (only available with purchase of a ticket) into your dining room. Kaylen Prescott is the video director and editor.
Door prizes will be drawn throughout the evening, and you’ll also see a premiere of the hospital’s CT scan video and learn how this new diagnostic tool will enhance regional health care. New to this year’s gala is a presentation of the third annual Bert McIntyre Award for Volunteerism to the Foundation!
“Our first Home Gala was a great success last year, so we’re excited to present it again,” explains Managing Director Al Roberts. “Even though things are starting to open up more, participants really enjoyed having the amazing food, incredible entertainment and prizes all delivered right to their home. This year’s announcement of the Bert McIntyre Award will really add to the excitement. And, like all fundraising galas, attendees are supporting their hospital and manor too.”
Only 150 tickets are available, at $150 per person (tax receipt of $75). You can order yours online at <almontehospitalfoundation.com/virtualgala>. For more information, please contact Louise Beckinsale at 882–2358 or <becki9lou@gmail.com>.
On Sunday, November 7, a vernissage will be held from 2–4pm for MERA’s November exhibiting artist. This show features the work of young local artist Fiona Szabo.
Fiona began to paint at age 5. Now, at 11 years, Fiona has entered and won art competitions in Canada and the US. Her work is primarily acrylic on canvas and meticulously executed drawings. She draws her inspiration from her family, the natural and manmade world around her, and anything that piques her curiosity.
Fiona’s major project over the past two years has been a graphic novel drawn from her life and imagination. Panels from this work will be on display at MERA. Inquiries about Fiona’s art or commission requests may be made through her mom, Shelagh Chambers, at <shelaghchambers@gmail.com>.
MERA is located at 974 Conc 9A in McDonalds Corners. For information about when you can see this exhibition, please contact Wayne Stryde at <gwstryde@outlook.com>.