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Some songs make you cry. In a good way. Maybe those who were fortunate enough to see and hear Jim Bryson play at the Perth & District Library this past May will remember the lovely track that got to me: Talking Trash, it’s called, and it features some truly beautiful lyrics almost whispered over a hypnotic soundscape of tinkling piano and stumming guitar.
Let’s stop talking trash, Jim sings. Let’s stick to the facts. Let’s think of the kids so they know we have their backs. Let’s stop using flash. Let’s not make everything a memory. We can’t rely on the news to tell us where the world is at.
It’s a song that Jim thinks reflects the mood of the album, Country Wifi, a seven-track album he recorded last winter in his Fixed Hinge “shed” studio in Stittsville, Ontario.
“I think contemplative and wry and whispered are words that describe the songs and the mood of the whole record,” he says. “The songs were recorded fast and there were a lot of one-take decisions happening. I think it’s a natural reaction in that when I make records for others, I have to have my eye more on the ball, so I can let it go and just wing it more with my stuff.”
His own stuff is all at once hopeful, playful, raw and emotional. On this record, the wistful, observational focus is on the present moment.
“Talking Trash is definitely a song that explores what we’re doing with our time and space and the people around us,” Jim explains, “and how I want to try to experience real experiences here and there when I’m not staring at my phone like I do.”
When it comes to songwriting, Jim is cool with leaving where the songs come from as a bit of mystery.
“I am almost afraid to take on that question,” he says (about how his songs come to be), “as there is definitely an otherworldly thing about where songs arrive from, but I do also think that by not being precious and too, too serious about it all, it opens up the possibility for more songs.”
Jim really enjoyed playing an intimate show — where there was a charming setup featuring some carpets and a lamp — at the Perth Library at the end of May. The concert was part of the “Library After Dark” series, which features top-notch artists in an uncommon place.
“It is absolutely my fave type of show to be a part of,” he says. “A show put on by a community place for the community, and the people attending are enthusiastic about what they are coming to see. I think in my world, bars etc. rarely inspire me in the way an alternate space like that show at the Perth Library was able to.”
Summer touring will take Jim north to Bracebridge, North Bay and Sudbury, before he plays back closer to home at the SAW Gallery in Ottawa on July 16. In mid-August, he’ll be heading to the “land of leisure and relaxation” in Gravenhurst, Ontario for the Muskoka Music Festival, which runs from August 19–21 and features a varied roster of talented musicians including Whitehorse, Matthew Barber, and Caroline Marie Brooks, with whom Jim has often collaborated.
He says he’s honoured to be invited, and playing outdoors in such a beautiful and peaceful setting should be a joy.
“I guess we find out when it arrives,” he says, “but it certainly offers up a set of conditions that are ripe for a really nice experience and something I will carry with me.”
It’s not solely about the venue, he explains.“The feeling from a great show is almost like lightning that you can’t possibly bottle. I’m not saying every show for me feels like that, ’cos sometimes I swing and miss and sometimes things just don’t connect, but I am very much interested in finding more of the kind of shows that allow for that connection and a really positive experience for everyone.”
In recent years, Jim has been recording and producing records for some magnificently talented artists in his Fixed Hinge Studio, including Kathleen Edwards and Suzie Ungerleider. It’s a process he thoroughly enjoys, for many reasons.
“I think that making the Caroline Brooks and Ken Yates records that came out in recent months are special,” he says, because “you get to be a part of something that really allows for a musical communication and friendship and the rabbit holes of chasing something… and maybe you don’t even know what until you try things.”
He points out that rather than make a “ton of records” because he has to in order to make a living, he wants to be part of things that really make sense and connect to him.
“The people themselves are obviously a huge part of that,” he explains, “and I don’t think I could experience that if I was making a lot of records necessarily versus building a smaller body of work that I’m incredibly proud of. I’m a really fortunate person in that I get to sing and write and make my own recordings and also make some records with others out there.”
“Look at me,” he adds, “the fortunate son.”
Country Wifi is available at a stellar record store near you.
Most musicians would prefer people to buy physical copies of their albums — Jim included, I think — and understandably so since musicians receive very small returns from streaming sources.
To that end, awhile back, Jim launched an initiative called the “Survival Tactics Series.”
“I wanted a way that I could say ‘I love that people find my music and stream and listen to it, but here is a concrete way you can directly support me.’” he says. “From there I released the song Better on Drugs for $?? and the response was nothing short of mind-blowing — it really felt like community support in a way. I think many of us running grassroots operations really are seeing signs of that support and community.”
And for that, Jim is grateful.
You can find out more about the man and his music by visiting <jimbryson.org>.
After two long years, a Company of Fools returns with its Torchlight Shakespeare in the park Summer Tour. This summer they present The Tempest, touring to over 40 local parks throughout Ottawa and beyond.
A stellar cast of Fools both new and old, with a few puppets thrown in for good measure, play 13 different roles to tell one of Shakespeare’s most magical stories. Bring your picnics, your lawn chairs, and even your dog to this ideal summer evening experience for the entire family!
Shows all start at 7pm, and there are several scheduled for locations in the Ottawa Valley, including July 7 at the MERA Schoolhouse in McDonalds Corners, July 14 at Maplewood Park in Oxford Mills, July 29 at Alexander Grove in Stittsville, August 2 at the Swing Bridge in Burritts Rapids, and August 11 at The Diefenbunker Museum in Carp. The full schedule is available at <fools.ca>. Admission is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $20 per person.
About The Tempest
Join us in 1920’s New Orleans, where magic and music come alive in the bayou. Set in The Big Easy, our re-imagining of The Tempest features curious crocodiles, tricksy spirits, handmade instruments and a jazz-inspired musical score.
Exiled to a deserted island twelve years ago, Prospero, the former Duke of Milan, plots his revenge on the man who usurped his throne: his own brother, Antonio. As a ship bearing Antonio draws closer to the island, Prospero uses all his wit and mystical powers to ensure he can enact his plan of reclaiming his power and establishing his daughter, Miranda, as princess in a rival kingdom. But in order to do so, Prospero must confront his true enemy — himself. Grappling with freedom and forgiveness, will Prospero be able to see what truly matters before it’s too late?
About the Fools
Best known for our Shakespeare in the Park series, we tour 90-minute versions of Shakespeare’s hits to community parks across Eastern Ontario.
We believe that it doesn’t matter where you live, how much you make, or how old you are: theatre should be accessible to everyone! All our performances are for pass-the-hat donations, family-friendly, and our tour to community parks means we bring the theatre to your neighbourhood.
Over the last thirty years we’ve developed our signature foolish approach to staging Shakespeare. We work with a small cast of six actors to embody fifteen different characters within a production and employ styles of slapstick, mask and puppetry to create a family-friendly experience. We help first-time theatregoers discover their love of live performance through our foolish approach to storytelling!
Bring a lawn chair or blanket, bug spray, picnic, and your sense of humour. Pass-the-hat donations are collected at the end of the performance and can be submitted in the form of cash, credit card, cheque, or bars of gold. Find more details at <fools.ca>.
Puppets Up needs your talents and energy! Organizers are assembling the team that will volunteer during the three-day event itself (five days if we count set-up and tear-down). If you can volunteer for at least one 4-hour shift, please complete the Volunteer Form by clicking “Sign Up to Volunteer” on the main page at <puppetsup.com>. To ensure that they can get you a snazzy Puppets Up Volunteer T-Shirt, please complete the form as soon as possible.
There are loads of fun jobs to do — selling tickets, hosting venues, helping with the parades or the Kids’ Craft Tent, and many others. They’re also seeking volunteers of all ages interested in A/V to help provide sound and light for the performers. They have the equipment, but need a few more folks to run it. This is an opportunity to experience a live festival stage in a fun, supported environment.
Please encourage your friends and family to join in the fun too! High school students can count their volunteer hours toward their Community Involvement graduation requirement. Email <volunteers@puppetsup.com> for more details.
Mississippi Mills is growing so quickly, and because of that and the isolation from Covid, I sometimes feel like I am walking in a strange town with nary a familiar face. Do you ever feel like that? Or are you new to the area and looking to connect with more people in this friendly town? 5 Wednesdays in July is the perfect solution!
For years now, on every Wednesday in July, friends, neighbours, families and visitors have gathered in Augusta Street Park in Almonte from 6pm onward to enjoy live music by local musicians. It’s been a fun gathering to connect and discover who our neighbours are.
A funny thing happened on the way to 5 Wednesdays in July this year. Community, like any relationship, takes a bit of effort. In the case of this annual event, everyone just expects it to happen, but it turned out that after a two-year hiatus Jeff Mills realized that no one was organizing it for this year. He put out a call, and it was incredible to see how volunteers jumped in and pulled it all together in just a week, and here we are with an awesome lineup of artists.
The sound will be overseen by James Walters, the sound equipment and stage will come from the Town, posters are being made, and musicians are rehearsing!
As the person doing the fundraising, I found it heartwarming to get such a strong response from local merchants willing to donate funds to ensure the musicians are paid for their work. Walking into a business to ask for donations is never easy, but I was met by so many staff, managers and business owners who remembered past 5 Wednesdays in the park or who were eager for a chance to connect with and support local events. Check out the sponsor list on the ad and poster, and let them know you appreciate them giving back to the community. I was also happy to receive some anonymous donations from locals who want to help keep this tradition alive.
Starting on July 6 and on every Wednesday thereafter in July, we are pleased to invite everyone to bring yourselves, your kids, your friends and your neighbours to an evening of relaxed fun. Bring a blanket, a lawn chair and a picnic, or enjoy a burger or hot dog from the Civitan BBQ. Feel free to walk the community gardens or let your kids paddle in the shaded brook that runs through the park. Play structures and a dirt bike track will keep the kids happy while everyone listens to some amazing artists. Dance on the grass under shady trees if you like and reconnect with summer, community and nature.
Since Augusta Steet Park is a memorial park, we will be passing a hat to help raise funds to continue to develop the space to meet the community’s needs. Access will be available for those who can’t walk into the park — please contact me (Wendy Whitaker) for arrangements by emailing <dillistone@hotmail.com> or calling 882–7852. Street parking is limited, so do consider walking or biking if possible. And to conclude, we can always use a few volunteers to come help with set-up and tear-down. Please reach out if you can help out!
On Monday, July 4 from 4–9pm, Studio Theatre Perth is holding auditions for Scrooge! The Musical. Written by Leslie Bricusse, the show is based on the Charles Dickens classic, and was adapted for the stage in 1992, from the 1970 musical film starring Albert Finney. Please arrive at 4pm for an introduction to the show, and to sign up for an audition slot following the orientation. This production will be directed by Carolee Mason with musical direction by Brad Mills, and performance dates are from November 24 to December 4.
Studio Theatre is seeking performers who can sing, dance and act, in roles for all ages — from 9 to 90! Lead roles include Scrooge, his nephew, the Christmas Ghosts, the Fezziwigs, and Bob Cratchit and his family. This flexible cast includes a chorus of Victorian shoppers, partygoers, street urchins and merchants.
Monday, Wednesday and Sunday evening rehearsals are possible, beginning mid-September. Most performers will not be required for multiple weekly rehearsals until the final weeks before opening.
If you are unable to make the audition time, please contact Carolee Mason at <backstagedrama@mac.com>.
Community volunteers are now providing bereavement support services within Lanark County. Bereavement Support Lanark County (BSLC) is a newly formed group of independent, well-trained volunteer grief facilitators whose mission is to provide peer bereavement support and education.
As anyone who has experienced grief knows, the journey of learning to live with that grief can be overwhelming and difficult. Feeling alone and/or uncomfortable about sharing your grief with family and friends is common. Grief shared IS easier. BSLC’s vision is to walk with those on their journey so that they need not walk it alone. By design, each service provided offers a safe space to share stories and experiences, to connect with others and to learn.
The following events and services can currently be found in one or more of Perth, Smiths Falls and Carleton Place. Additionally, special workshops and events are being planned for the fall.
Open (drop-in) Nights: In these facilitated evening sessions, pre-selected topics allow for focused sharing and learning opportunities. Folks can join any or all evenings where a session is offered. No registration is required.
Closed Groups: These 8-week programs consist of weekly sessions. A small group of committed participants (6–10) is fully supported by one or two trained facilitators.
One-on-One Companioning: This peer support serves those who would prefer private sessions as they learn about their own grief path.
Walking Groups: Groups of 2 or 3 participants walk with a facilitator, enabling grief sharing, conversation and connection.
BSLC can be reached at <bereavementslc@gmail.com>, on Facebook (BereavementSLC), or online at <bereavementsupportlanarkcounty.weebly.com> for more information.
Mark your calendar for the third week of July when the display gardens and daylily field at Whitehouse Perennials are in full bloom. This is the fourth season for the Bloomfest Garden Art Show, and the number of participating artists has grown to seventeen. The display gardens and daylily field are a beautiful venue to showcase garden art. Beginning on July 21, the work of the artists will be installed throughout the three display gardens and the daylily field. It will remain in place until the show closes on July 31.
The lineup includes local artists as well as some from southern Ontario and Quebec. Doug MacDonald of Rue Royale and Dave Card from Peace of Mind Creations are two well-known local artists who will be returning this year. Doug will be showing some of his new pieces, including a Cheshire Cat planter. Dave Card uses the natural form and colour of wood to create his sculptures. His wren houses, with humorous carved faces, always draw a smile from visitors.
Another local artist, mouth glass blower Chris Van Zanten, makes weatherproof glass totems and whimsies in a rainbow of colours. His beautifully crafted glass birdbaths, sitting in twisted black metal frames, are always popular.
Barbora Balaban of Barcha Pottery is a first-time participant. She creates unusual sculptural pottery that will bring a touch of whimsy to your garden or a patio pot. Birds, butterflies, wind chimes, and whatever else springs from her imagination, are made from stoneware pottery and finished with her distinctive brush work. Frank Sammut of Kokopelli Woodworking turns locally harvested wood into unique indoor and outdoor furniture that showcases the natural beauty of the wood grain. The birdhouses of Portshell Crafts are both colourful and functional. As soon as one was installed in the garden, a wren family moved in!
Murkay Creations works with molten glass to produce wind chimes, outdoor wall hangings and multi-coloured dragonflies that glisten in the sun. The metal work of Clare Scott Taggart, better known as Rusty Girl, is always in demand. From practical items like peony rings to obelisks and bird baths, Clare’s rusty metal creations will fit in any garden. Rob and Sue Thomas of A Twist of Metal turn steel and sometimes stone into original sculptures. Each year Rob brings some favourites, like bull rushes and dancing storks, but there is always something new and unique.
Many people have been collecting the whimsical and brilliantly painted little houses, framed in cedar wood and decorated using old copper wire, that are the work of Stephane Lavallee of L’art-Verre. The benches and tables of Tuscany Concrete by Design are works of art that are fabricated for outdoor use but could easily find a place in your home. Raymond Warren’s enchanting ceramic sculptures are one-of-a-kind pieces that are hand sculpted then wood fired. This process produces subtle shadings and colours that make his little figures come to life. Colin Logan’s handcrafted metal and stone creations will make you smile. Stone and metal birds, flying insects and little “creatures” flow from his imagination.
Flora and fauna are the inspiration for the wire art and driftwood mobiles of Betty Letendre. Colourful fish and animals sculpted in wire on driftwood bases are perfect for informal garden spaces. The work of Cindy Laneville was a visitor favourite last year. Cindy is a mosaic glass artist who produces brilliantly coloured windows and self-supporting pieces set in live edge wood. Cecilia Troy of Artified Living is a mixed media artist who creates her unique pieces from salvaged objects of metal and wood. She is exhibiting for the first time, as are Marie and Howie Levine of the Glass, Wood and Resin Boutique. They create sculptures using live edge wood with sparkling insets made of mirrors, glass and resin.
Garden art adds the finishing touch to a garden. It is always fun to wander the gardens and imagine how a piece of art that catches your eye would look in your own space. Whitehouse Perennials is excited to be able to host this show again and to feature the work of these talented individuals. Information about the show and the artists who are attending can be found at <whitehouseperennials.com>. Admission is free.
The community of Mississippi Mills has recently said “Good-bye” to a very special couple, Bob and Thora Pugh. After almost 67 years of marriage, they managed to exit within two weeks of each other — a final demonstration of their devotion.
Pakenham was blessed when they and their four children moved from Montreal to the area in 1970. I highly recommend that you read their obituaries in the June 17 issue of the Millstone News. Their individual accomplishments are truly astounding.
But I have some inside information that wasn’t included it those obits. For example, when Bob was the Athletic Director at Montreal’s MacDonald College, he made it possible for a young Toller Cranston to have early morning free ice time to hone his skating skills.
The parties at their home, Stonebridge Bed and Breakfast, were truly exceptional. One party featured a murder mystery where Bob was the unfortunate deceased — lying halfway down the basement steps. Another party celebrated a tenth wedding anniversary for mutual friends who had been married over a pizza shop. Of course pizza was on the menu, Bob held the shot gun, Thora sang the solo.
The Pakenham Curling Club benefitted from Thora’s brilliant ideas to change the rules at the Sweetheart Bonspiels, where the men had some extra challenges in order to participate. It was always fun.
At one time I was the “reporter” for the Almonte Gazette, reporting on the Pakenham Township Council meetings. Charlie Gillan was the Reeve, there was a Deputy Reeve and three council members — all men. One fellow would fall asleep shortly after the beginning of the meeting, breathing noisily. Another man never said a word, never uttered an opinion throughout the whole evening. Thora decided to run for council. The “quiet” man decided not to run so that the Township wouldn’t have the expense of holding an election. Thora went to see him to make sure there were no “hard feelings”. She told me that his advice was: “Never say anything and you will always get elected”.
Thora was the brilliant director of several of my plays. She brought out the best in the actors and all who participated.
Bob, in his 94th year, still had his driver’s license and gym membership.
As I write this I feel a deep sadness for the loss of these two, but also a huge sense of gratitude to have been part of their community.
It is well documented that doing what is necessary to keep the planet hospitable for us and our grandkids could be really prosperous and rewarding. There are tons of high-paying jobs and interesting fulfilling new kinds of work that are increasingly needing to be filled. We really don’t need to be supporting development at any cost. For example, the proposed Hwy 413. It was disappointing that this was a high point in the Conservative campaign. Just think what could be accomplished if the money going toward such a counter-productive plan went to training and hiring the army of skilled workers it would take to retrofit buildings with heat pumps, solar systems and energy-saving (and money-saving) measures, to give just one example.
Polling has shown that roughly 70% of Canadians want aggressive action on Climate Change. We know what needs to be done to stop devastating climate chaos. The science is clear, and every prediction is coming true. In the 30 years since the first world conference on Climate Change in Rio, what needed to be addressed most critically has been obvious. So, the perennial question around this existential issue remains: why isn’t there the strong action on Climate Change that is required to keep the planet livable? One thing is clear — countries whose governments lead on environmental action are doing much better.
We need, bold, forward-thinking and aspirational governments on all levels. When governments take action, much can happen.
In numerous jurisdictions, governments have implemented aggressive carbon pollution fees and focused on returning those funds into peoples’ pockets and making that money work toward a greener future. Or in other words: a future.
A recent article in The Narwhal <thenarwhal.ca> entitled Norway’s Oil Savings Just Hit $1 Trillion. Alberta Has $17 Billion. What Gives? describes how a government can approach the royalties from a natural resource and make it beneficial. In this instance, Norway is compared to how the provincial government in Alberta has managed the royalties from the Oil Sands.
Another example of how governments can lead and create a big impact is the health care system in the US compared with countries with national health plans. We all know what happens when governments oppose having health care as a basic right. The debacle in the US is a clear example, and despite the issues with our system, it is still a government priority.
What governments prioritize in terms of education, health care, elder care and environmental action can have powerful ramifications.
It is notable that Lanark County is a leader among the rural municipalities of Eastern Ontario in developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP). We are hopeful that our new MPP, John Jordan, will help move forward all the energy, solid ideas and plans that have gone into the CAP.
This month, Climate Network Lanark sought responses from Mr. Jordan about issues we have been working on. We want to know what Mr. Jordan can do to help Lanark County implement our climate action agenda, so we’ve posed three basic questions for him. We hope to have a conversation about these questions, and will publish the responses in the Hummail e-newsletter later in the month (visit thehumm.com to subscribe).…
Socio-Economic Question
Your former position as CEO of the ConnectWell Community Health Centre made you aware of the determinants of health (personal, social, economic and environmental factors). But in Lanark County and Smiths Falls, many people are lacking food security, housing, education, a livable income and health care. All of these determinants are made dramatically worse by the climate crisis, here and now, as we saw in BC last year.
How do you personally plan to improve these determinants in this riding?
Environment and Climate Change Question
Wetlands store between 2 and 5 times the amount of carbon stored by forests. They also protect us from flooding, among their many benefits. Lanark County is home to some of the largest wetlands remaining in Southern Ontario. These provide a particular advantage to us in Lanark County, one we cannot afford to waste, yet these critical carbon sinks are not all mapped and evaluated because the provincial government withdrew funding and resources from MND/MNRF to do that work.
What will you do to bring back this capacity to evaluate and protect these critical carbon sinks for Lanark County?
Transportation Question
It has been calculated that transportation is responsible for half of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) pollution in Lanark County. Shifting to EVs is only one small part of the solution — rural public transportation is also desperately needed.
What will you do to help Lanark County address rural public transportation in order to cut those GHGs in half?
Harmony Concerts is bringing Juno award-winning folk icon Connie Kaldor to Studio Theatre Perth on July 2. Connie comes from Saskatchewan and is one of Canada’s finest songwriters. She has toured around the world, won Junos, and is a member of the Order of Canada as well as winning a Western Literature award. She has done it all as an independent; writing, singing, performing, building her following one song, one show at a time. She is the author of three award-winning CD books for children. She has written musicals and music for films and web-series. But always it is her live shows that are the bedrock of her career. Her 16th album Everyday Moments is out and available now.
Harmony Concerts is a boutique series that prides itself on an eclectic line-up. They are presenting events throughout Eastern Ontario and Quebec. Events coming to Perth include Connie Kaldor, Quartetto Gelato, Jade Turner, Jenie Thai, Rachael Kilgour, Lynn Miles, Raphael Weinroth-Brown, Mia Kelly and Kamancello. For tickets and information, please visit <harmonyconcerts.ca>.
Art… and Soul
We say someone is a real card when they go out of their way to amuse and surprise us — the expression comes from the 19th century, and is based on playing cards that all had illustrations of characters with distinct personalities. Wood sculptor Dave Card more than fills the bill (another idiom from the 19th century). Card is a dedicated artist continuously striving to create whimsical woodland characters with distinct personalities to make you smile. He succeeds!
His goal is to make a positive difference in people’s lives; it is the reason he persists in his third decade of a labour-intensive and physically challenging career. His droll wooden sculptures make people laugh and forget their woes, at least for a moment (and every time they really pause to take another look).
The wood itself is his primary inspiration; he views his art as a collaboration with nature. The patterns and whorls in the cedar rails and other found wooden objects he chooses as his “canvas” stimulate his original, somewhat idiosyncratic sense of humour. He likens it to looking at clouds and visualizing phantasmagorical creatures changing shapes and morphing into yet more intriguing characters. The resulting sculptures are distinctly identifiable as Dave Card personalities, reflecting his sensitive appreciation of the human condition. As he puts it, “if you are laughing, crying, thinking, or even a little disturbed, it’s all good — if I have gotten your attention, I have succeeded!”
Whether it’s a bird house or a garden “shroom” (mushroom) or a raccoon or a bearded guy, the quintessential Dave Card expression on each sculpture first elicits an inadvertent grin, and then a little tug at the corner of your heart as you respond to the emotion it conveys. He sculpts the occasional sunflower, and when he comes across an interesting piece of driftwood or submerged tree roots when he’s out paddling in his canoe, it may inspire him to sculpt a gentler personality. His trademark, however, is an expression on a character that will amuse you. He has even found a way to make you laugh sans expression; his new cowboy sculpture has turned his back to you, and it takes a moment to realize what he’s up to!
Strong Connections
It was September of 2000 when we featured Dave and his first wife, Adrianna, in theHumm as a dynamic duo of mutually supportive, country-loving artists. It was heartwarming to learn that after Adrianna’s untimely death, Dave eventually found a uniquely compatible partner. His second wife Deb had been Adrianna’s best friend, and Deb’s first husband had been Dave’s best friend until his early demise. Both appreciate how the strong connections they share enable them to keep their memories close to their hearts. Dave considers Deb a hero and an inspiration — she was a nurse for thirty years, and he greatly respects how she and her fellow healthcare professionals make such a difference in our lives. Like so many things we depend on, they are so often taken for granted.
If he had to pick the card that best suits him, Dave would identify as a Joker. He remembers that even as a child he was always kidding around and making people laugh. His dad was a geologist, and Dave worked as an assistant. He abandoned his studies in drafting and map-making when he discovered he would have to give up the hand-to-paper experience to work on a computer. Fortunately, his dad was also an amateur carpenter and Dave grew up around a lot of sawdust. It is the wood itself that turned him into a sculptor. He loves the way that “nature sculpts it beforehand and allows me to embellish on it.”
He always loved to draw — his fascination with faces is evident from his earliest sketches. He has a true artist’s eye — he sees things in burls and twisted fence rails that most of us only see once he has sculpted a quintessential Dave Card character from it. Much of his sculpting is done with a chain saw. Some of you may remember the “Giant Jack” pumpkin he carved as a Food Bank fundraiser years ago at Glenn Needham’s farm. It was astonishing to watch the character magically emerge from under the tip of Dave’s saw.
Now Dave has a shed full of weathered cedar fence rails as fodder for his creativity, and the fact that they have already faced Mother Nature for many years makes his pieces intrinsically more durable outdoors. After painting his finished sculptures, he applies multiple coats of polyurethane finish to protect them from the elements, and you can always add another coat after your garden character has weathered a few years outdoors. His pieces are so charismatic that I wasn’t surprised to learn that most of them end up indoors where owners can keep an amused eye on them.
In addition to the occasional driftwood piece that inspires him to experiment, Dave also accepts commissions to create a unique sculpture just for you.
Bloomfest Garden Art Show and Sale
From July 21 to 31 there is a great opportunity to enjoy Dave Card’s signature wood sculptures in their native outdoor environment during the Bloomfest Garden Art Show and Sale. At Whitehouse Nursery and Display Gardens, Dave is one of seventeen artists participating, five of whom we have profiled previously. Located at 594 Rae Rd., just outside Almonte, the setting is superb, the Whitehouse daylily field will be in full bloom, and attendance is free. If a Dave Card sculpture doesn’t make you smile, you might just need to lighten up. The back of his Artist Trading Card contains his coordinates.
Following several years of cancellations due to the pandemic, Perth Tourism is thrilled to see the return of a number of events this summer.
The renowned Stewart Park Festival is back from July 15-17, celebrating 30 years of music and community. Offering an incredible weekend of music, great food and amazing vendors, this three-day, by-donation music festival takes place right in the heart of downtown Perth in Stewart Park. Showcasing both international and Canadian artists, the event is presented by the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA.
On August 13-14, the annual Perth Lions Garlic Festival returns for its 23rd year. Taking place at the Perth Fairgrounds, the event brings together “garlic heads” and producers to promote Ontario-grown garlic, and to share ideas about how to grow, harvest, market, cook and enjoy garlic.
The Perth Fair, the town’s longest running event, takes place over four days from September 2-5. Celebrating 175 years, the event features various competitions and contests, entertainment, agility performances, a midway and more.
Other events taking place over the summer include the Perth Antiques Show (July 2-3) and Glen Tay Block Race (August 25). The Perth Farmers’ Market continues to run weekly on Saturdays from 8am to 1pm at the Crystal Palace, and be sure to check out Studio Theatre and Full Circle Theatre as well to find out what’s on!
Visit <perth.ca/events> for more information and to stay up to date on details.
The Downtown Heritage Perth BIA is proud to bring the Stewart Park Festival back after a two-year hiatus. This July marks 30 years of celebrating community by bringing a stellar lineup to this year’s festival, taking place on July 15, 16 and 17 in downtown Perth!
This popular festival offers you an opportunity to enjoy talented Canadian and international artists, just steps away from the historic downtown. With two stages in the park, this free festival is available to everyone and offers entertainment for all ages. Donations are gratefully accepted online at <stewartparkfestival.com> or at the entrances to the park. This year’s amazing lineup includes Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, Wesli, Miss Emily, Suzie Vinnick, Ambre McLean, the Scott Cook Trio, Emily Jean Flack, Moskito Bar and the Redfox band, and lots more. Kids can enjoy activities and programs in the park during the day, and adults can visited the ticketed event at the Crystal Palace and dance the night away!
Beautiful Stewart Park is located in the heart of downtown Perth. If you are visiting the festival and need to stretch your legs or search for a respite from the warm weather, the beautiful downtown is only a block away. You are cordially invited to explore the wonderful boutiques, beautiful galleries and fabulous restaurants, featuring international cuisine that you are sure to enjoy. Visit <downtownperthbia.ca> and check out the amazing shops and restaurants that are adjacent to the park. The BIA looks forward to welcoming you to downtown Perth!
The Stewart Park Festival committee is a proud committee of the Downtown Heritage Perth BIA and is funded by the Province of Ontario. The festival is brought to you by official sponsors TD Bank Group, Perth Canadian Tire, Hinton Auto Group and David R. Bangs Fuels Ltd. The Stewart Park Festival appreciates the generous support of both sponsors and the wonderful community.
The Perth Lions Garlic Festival is thrilled to announce that the 23rd annual Garlic Festival is a go! After having to cancel the festival for the last two years due to Covid, the Committee is putting together what they feel will be one of their best events yet. They will be highlighting vendors (many are returning), birds of prey, music, food, fun, and of course, lots of garlic! Check them out at <perthgarlicfestival.ca> as well as on Facebook for up-to-date information.
Save the dates: August 13 and 14, 2022 at the Perth Fairgrounds. Come on out to buy your garlic, catch up with old friends, bring a lawn chair and listen to upbeat summer music featuring The Doherty Brothers on Saturday and Eddy & the Stingrays on Sunday.
Your admission donation of $5 per person will enable the Perth Lions Club to raise funds in order to meet the many needs of various organizations in and around the community. Children under 12 are admitted free (no dogs allowed, please).
Declarations such as “carrots love tomatoes”, “beans and onions are natural enemies”, “beets love cabbage” and “potatoes don’t like cucumbers”, offered without any scientific evidence, drive me to distraction.
I have always found that our spring season is so very short that I am hard-pressed to get the soil prepared, let alone try to get everything planted at the appropriate time. Factor in crop rotation, companion planting, the vagaries of weather forecasting and whether the moon is waxing or waning, and my brain feels like it is ready to implode!
As I’m sure most gardeners are aware, companion planting is the planting of different crops in proximity for any number of reasons — including pest control, pollination, providing habitat for beneficial insects, maximizing use of space, and to otherwise increase crop productivity.
The benefits of companion planting seem pretty straightforward to me; however, the proof that some plants are really bad companions seems pretty sketchy to me — many of the recommendations about bad companions seem to me to be based on hearsay rather than scientific experiment.
However, I do know from bitter personal experience that the chemicals produced by walnut and butternut trees kill susceptible plants (such as potatoes and tomatoes). Most members of the walnut family (Juglandaceae) produce a chemical called “juglone”. It can cause toxic reactions with several other plant species that grow in their vicinity. While many plants are tolerant to juglone and grow well near walnut trees, there are certain susceptible plant species whose growth can be inhibited by walnut trees.
Experimentally, juglone has been shown to be a respiration inhibitor, which deprives sensitive plants of needed energy to enable metabolic activity. Affected plants cannot exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen properly. In affected plants, xylem vessels become plugged by callus tissue, blocking upward movement of water in the plant.
The scientific term to describe the effect of juglone on other plants is “allelopathy”. It is a term used to describe natural interactions between plants where one plant produces a substance that affects the growth of another plant — these effects can be positive or negative. Walnut trees are not the only plants that exhibit allelopathy. Garlic mustard, for example, is believed to excrete a chemical that interferes with the relationship between tree roots and their mycorrhizal fungi. Some studies have shown that sunflowers inhibit the growth of other plants.
A review of my gardening books and Professor Google reveals a plethora of confusing information on the effects that one plant may have on another. Most the advice is based on anecdotal evidence. It seems that many variables can affect the results; for example, I have found that garlic and onions react very badly to being crowded. I suspect that the result is due to competition for resources rather than an allelopathic interaction. However, the more I learn about plant growth and what is going on in the soil, the more I realize how incredibly complicated it is and how very little we understand.
So I am far from being ready to abandon the concept of companion planting. In fact, I realize that I have long practised many variations on the theme of companion planting.
Interplanting is one such technique. It is simply combining two or more types of vegetables in the same garden bed at the same time to maximize the growing area — I have planted a row of a very-fast maturing vegetable such as radish or spinach between rows of slower growing plants such as peppers or eggplant. By the time the peppers and eggplant need the space, the radishes will be long gone. This year we have a row of Bok choi planted between rows of cauliflower and broccoli — it is proving to be a “trap” crop for flea beetles.
Aromatic herbs can add to a bug-baffling mix — diversity is key to a balanced environment. There is lots of evidence that insects are attracted to monocultures. It is much harder for them to find their target crop in the midst of a diversity of plants. There are plants such as marigolds, chives, and catnip that repel insects, while others such as calendula, borage and dill attract beneficial insects.
I must admit that I prefer a bit more order in my garden, but if it works, it is worth trying. I have planted radishes around my squash to deter cucumber and squash beetles — it didn’t deter the beetles, but I had some really great radishes!
Perhaps one of the best-known examples of companion planting in gardening lore is that of the three sisters — corn, beans and squash — that were planted together by indigenous gardeners. It requires corn and bean varieties that are allowed to reach full maturity and that are then picked and stored as dry beans and corn. The prickly vines and leaves of the squash plants act as a deterrent to wildlife such as deer, as well as to humans! Also, from the perspective of good companions, the nutrient requirements are different — corn needs lots of nitrogen while beans grab nitrogen from the atmosphere.
The final word on the topic comes from a gardening friend. When I asked her if she believes in companion planting, she opined that she enjoys having a good companion with her when she is gardening!
Live History, a Governor General’s award-nominated international touring theatre company that produces site-specific customizable mysteries around the world, will present A Timeless Gathering at the Middleville Museum on July 9.Performances of this interactive mystery event will take place at 1pm and 3pm, and are designed for ages 12 years and older. Tickets are $20 each, available at the Middleville and District Museum (Visa, Mastercard, cash or cheque) or by contacting Dawn Morrison at 256–4997. Payment can also be made by e-transfer to <middlevillemuseum@gmail.com>.
The Middleville & District Museum is located at 2130 Concession Rd 6D Lanark Highlands, in the Village of Middleville. Live History <livehistoryshows.com> specializes in bringing local history to life, and has toured venues in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda and the UK.
Hummingbird Chocolate, one of the world’s leading chocolate makers, will host a grand opening celebration at its new location in Almonte at 476 Ottawa Street on Saturday, July 9 from 11am to 4pm.
At the height of the pandemic, Hummingbird embarked on a robust investment by building a new 10,000-square-foot production facility, retail shop and café. Part factory, part experiential chocolate centre, the contemporary space also includes a tasting room where they will hold workshops and chocolate pairing events.
“Demand has been so intense that we had grown out of our former space,” says co-founder Drew Gilmour. “When it was time to expand, we wanted to build a space that really engages visitors and brings them back again and again.” The grand opening will mark an important milestone for the family-owned company that’s earned over 100 international medals for excellence, including the “Golden Bean,” the highest honour of the chocolate world.
Reflecting on a decade of progress and chocolate making, co-founder Erica Gilmour says: “it’s amazing to think that my husband Drew and I started Hummingbird ten years ago, just the two of us making chocolate, designing labels and selling at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market. Now we have a team of truly wonderful, smart people who craft chocolate that is enjoyed across Canada, and soon the world.”
Christa Lowry, the Mayor of Mississippi Mills, will cut the ribbon at noon. All are welcome to attend the open-house style event that will feature prizes, giveaways, local food and drinks, entertainment, factory tours, chocolate samples and workshops. Find more details at <hummingbirdchocolate.com>.
After two years of virtual events, Herbfest is back in person and better than ever! Taking place on Sunday, July 31, this celebration of healthy living brings fabulous local artisans, farms and other vendors to the stunning grounds of the historic Waba Cottage Museum and Gardens in White Lake. Live music, workshops and tours offer visitors from across Ottawa and the Valley a vibrant outdoor festival experience.
In past years, over 2000 people have made Herbfest the event of the summer, and organizers anticipate a similar turnout this year.
Spencer Scharf, Alan Wright and Kevin Harrison will grace the main stage throughout the day. Visitors can get gorgeous henna tattoos, learn about meditation and breathwork, participate in a circle dance, enjoy the river on a pontoon boat ride, sample delicious local eats, and cool off with a beverage at the beer tent.
Vendors include produce and meat from local farms, herbs and plants, soaps and self-care products, gifts and hand-crafted items, jewellery and more!
Admission is free, and ample parking is available onsite. Visit <midsummerherbfest.ca> for details.
I have long loved libraries and indie bookstores.
On a drive to Almonte last month, I delivered my second memoir, Father Rick, Roamin’ Catholic (Friesen Press 2022) to an affable Ann Shea at Mill Street Books, later giving my “elevator pitch” to the Almonte Public Library staff.
“The 70-year ‘crooked, straight’ faith memoir of a former priest and then proud Dad to his trans son, mixing mischief, irreverence, and biting commentary on the troubles in the Catholic Church and religion,” I enthused.
They seemed intrigued, but who knows, what with the chat through masks that has my hearing-impaired ears living out a Monty Python movie these past few years, the foggy glasses, masks snaring hearing aids, and covering up others’ lips I apparently read so well.
On the drive from Ottawa, I remembered fondly my valiant NDP candidacy in Almonte that I tell in the book.
“…a move to Kanata in the west end of Ottawa set me up for a real-life Best Laid Plans political campaign. Enthusiasm for the new NDP leader Jack Layton betrayed me. Activists wanted me to run in the 2004 federal election in the Carleton-Mississippi Mills riding that included mostly suburban voters and a dozen rural communities (Almonte etc.). In Terry Fallis’ Best Laid Plans novel, the Scot, Angus McLintock, was another Rick sacrificial lamb chosen for a hopeless cause when, lo and behold, a political scandal and karma hurdled him to an astonishing, upset victory. That ending would be pure fiction for me.
“On leave from my job, I did run, relishing the dozen debates, media interviews, conversations with voters, articulating a social democrat approach to federal and global policies for the economy, environment, and social inclusion for all. As in ministry, I told back to people their own stories that I had heard while canvassing — bills to pay, few childcare options, hardships facing small business owners, and farmers losing the family farm. In the same block, citizens slammed their door in my face while their neighbour chased me down the street to hear my views on the Middle East. Voters! Politics! When a rural debate in a packed community hall ended, I ran to the back doors to greet everyone as I had after a church service. One farmer slapped me on the back to pronounce me the debate’s winner. It was evident though that he was sticking with his Conservative party.
“With clergy abuse stories prevalent in the media, it was suggested I use vaguer ‘ministry’ references for my bio. I insisted on priest. I had nothing to hide. Indeed, two voters asked why I left the priesthood. ‘Love,’ I answered. That was no scandal.
“I had wanted a better result than my third place and the 6,758 votes that left me far behind the new Conservative MP, Gordon O’Connor. A week before the election, a Liberal friend had whispered their polling had the local NDP at seventeen percent. We couldn’t afford any polling; we were jealous of opponents’ radio ad buys and billboards. Seventeen percent was unprecedented support for the NDP there. However, strategic voting messages — vote Liberal to stop Conservative Stephen Harper — helped elect a minority Paul Martin government, delaying a Harper victory another two years. The riding association still earned its $1,000 campaign rebate for the first time, delighting the merry band of tireless volunteers. I had my Layton leader-candidate photo as a keepsake and a renewed faith in democracy.
“I should have known it would not be a McLintock ending. My housekeeper, who liked my views, confessed she could not vote for the NDP because ‘her father would turn in his grave’. She laughed when I told her that, from even the little I knew of her past, her father had probably turned in his grave several times already. Voting for me might have him right side up!”
On a serious note, the book’s sobering commentary on clergy abuse, residential schools, and judgment of LGBTQ+ folk are alongside praise for good priests, and the many good works of faith communities.
Like my “crooked, straight” journey to heaven’s doors, it’s complicated. I am still a believer, still standing, celebrating a big God, searching for answers, astonished by it all.
Signed copies of Father Rick, Roamin’ Catholic are available at Mill Street Books. More on Rick Prashaw and his writing and activism can be found at <rickprashaw.com>, and @RickPrashaw on social media.
The world-class magic show OUTERBRIDGE — Clockwork Mysteries returns to the Station Theatre in Smiths Falls from July 1 through October 1. Shows take place on Fridays at 7:30pm, and on Saturdays at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets are $28.20 plus HST and
Eventbrite fees at <outerbridge.eventbrite.com>.
Critics across the globe have hailed Ted and Marion Outerbridge as “a master of Illusion” (CBC-Radio Canada), “champions of magic” (Bergedorfer Zeitung, Hamburg, Germany), described their performance as “a visual feast” (Jinhua Daily, China), and exclaimed “WOW, that was fantastic… BRAVO!” (Global TV).It is the most successful illusion show in Canada, garnering both the Award of Excellence from Ontario Contact and the Touring Artist of the Year award from the BC Touring Council, as well as setting box office records, one of which generated a call to a Fire Marshall to get permission to expand seating!
After years of performing around the world, including Europe, China, and the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, the Outerbridges recently relocated to Smiths Falls and are delighted to be performing minutes from their new home in the Ottawa Valley! Says Ted Outerbridge, “Years ago, doing a theatrical show comparable to something in Las Vegas in a town of 9,000 would not have been possible, but TV shows like America’s Got Talent have created a renaissance in the magical arts.”
Within seconds of taking the stage, the Outerbridges fuse their revolutionary illusions with split-second artistry to hold viewers spellbound. A fantastical event that is at once magic, dance, theatre and a dash of wonder, the audience is invited into a mysterious clock tower equipped with a variety of timekeeping devices. From elaborate Victorian time machines and capsules to a dizzying array of uncanny predictions and vanishings, the performers and spectators become part of an interactive and exhilarating race against time, celebrating moment and memory.
Audiences will also get a sneak peek of the Outerbridges’ new offering, The Keyhole House (to premiere in 2023). A keeper of secrets and a witness to history, this abandoned 19th century Smiths Falls home knew the couple had a penchant for mystery who would uncover and tell its storied past, and decided to make the duo its new occupants. Their loving restoration of its creaky floors, boarded up walls and unearthed passageways revealed all manner of cherished artifacts, asking never to be forgotten. From skeleton keys and dusty photographs to yellowed newspapers and Christmas cards, not to mention a 1918 golf ball which sent the international sports media into a frenzy, The Keyhole House continues to tell its tales — from rusty nails right to the rafters!Chronicled in video, Ted and Marion’s discoveries have gone viral with millions of TikTok views and will also be featured on TVO’s new Crossroads series premiering on June 13! But it’s the Station Theatre audiences who’ll be treated to their magical renderings. Find more details at <tedouterbridge.com>, and find tickets at <outerbridge.eventbrite.com>!
Almonte artist Linda Hamilton has taken inspiration from watercolour paintings by R. Tait McKenzie in the museum’s collection to create a series of paper wildflowers.
McKenzie was born in Ramsay Township in 1867. He was a childhood friend of Almonte’s other notable famous figure, Dr. James Naismith. After a long and successful career as a doctor, teacher and sculptor, McKenzie was slowing down. He returned to Almonte and bought the property that would become the Mill of Kintail in 1931. He also became involved with many local groups, including the Almonte Handicraft Guild. It was for this group that he created these watercolour paintings. They depict native wildflowers that he would have found blooming on his property in the 1930s. The paintings themselves were made as patterns for hooked mats, a very popular craft at the time. These mats were made by working with long strips of material to create durable and beautiful patterned pieces like rugs and chair coverings. Reusing every scrap of material was important in the depression years.
Linda Hamilton has been working with paper to create botanical sculptures for over ten years. Last summer she displayed a collection of paper wildflowers at the Mill of Kintail, an exhibit that was very well attended. During that time, she learned of McKenzie’s paintings and the hooked mats in the museum’s collection. She has recreated nine wildflowers which are hanging alongside McKenzie’s paintings in the main exhibit room. Several of the hooked mats are also on display. The exhibit is a combination of history, botany and craft that reflects the enduring inspiration of the wild spaces around us.
The exhibit will run until July 31. For more information, please visit <mvc.on.ca/museum> or Linda’s website <daydreamflowers.ca>.
What happens when preparing for the fantabulous return of Puppets Up!, taking place from August 12-14 in Almonte? Well, there are parallel realities when magic is being planned and this is no exception. Zoom meetings were held, puppies were whelped, babies were born, families and friends reunited, volunteers jumped into unknown territory and continued to shine, scripts were written, sets designed, sponsors came forward, puppeteers agreed to come to the party. You’re about to experience it all — ok, maybe not the puppies and babies — but you know, the scope of the magic. In Almonte. Soon.
Almonte is a storied place, so now for an historical interlude. Not only is history repeating itself with the puppets coming home for the first time since 2016, but Almonte has had momentous moments in the distant past. Look at your copy of the 1872 Almonte Gazette to know that not only were big tents coming to town, but the Rosamond Woollen Mill actually shut down to give employees an opportunity to attend the circus. Creative distractions are that important — local economies understand this. Come on down and become part of the creative, storied thread of local history!
What exactly will be in happening, you ask?
Alongside the recreational trail, near the swaying trees of the Alameda; across the street at the Old Town Hall site; in the parking lot of the Almonte Branch of the Mississippi Mills Public Library; and willy-nilly on every street, nook and cranny nearby, puppets and assorted folk will be at play. Joy will be had.
Streets will be festooned with fun, food and folk. When walking down Mill Street — a vibrant place that dances in time to a major roadwork project — look out for paintings that will pop up on storefront windows here and there. Stop into the shops, the vendor market and the food court when you can.
Sponsors have come out to join in the excitement. Early support came from the Municipality of Mississippi Mills and from Lanark County. And others? When on site you’ll see familiar names on the theatre and tent marquees: Alliance Coin & Banknote and the Indonesian Embassy; Hummingbird Chocolate & Equator Coffee Roasters; Joanne Beaton/Tracy Arnett Realty; Sivarulrasa Gallery; U Better Call Paul/EXP Realty; and Vamos Outdoors. Puppets are so grateful!
Puppeteers from Iceland, Indonesia, Canada and the United States — 13 troupes including our very own thespians from the Almonte & District High School! There’s something for everyone. Troupes will entertain and evoke culture, emotions and play. Kids will be creating works of art of their own, fashioning memories for years to come. And for those one-time kids, adult theatre events take place on Friday with internationally renowned Ronnie Burkett, and on Saturday night, a cabaret with most of the scheduled troupes participating — tickets for those standalone events are now available at Tickets Please (ticketsplease.ca, 485–6434). The online program at <puppetsup.com> has it all but believe us, the walls will be billowing out trying to contain the energy within.
And as energy must be released, there’ll be the puppet parades on Saturday and Sunday at 1:45 — a perambulating, pleasing panorama of all things puppet-related and more. Street performers will entice you to join in the wonder of mayhem and laughter.
And watch out for Nick, the Puppets Up! mascot, turning up all over the place — he really does have a mind of his own. Not only was he invited to traipse down the street at Destination Almonte’s night market in June, but he’s determined to pop in at all community events possible to share a little of the joy of being back! We all know what that’s like, don’t we?
To sum up, as one must, tickets are selling at a wonderfully maddening rate! Thanks to the generosity of a bevy of sponsors and funders, Puppets Up! has been able to hold the early bird prices for a bit longer, but make sure to purchase yours soon while tickets are still deeply discounted. If you don’t have tickets yet, get one, two, or three soon at Tickets Please and we’ll see you at the festival!
Wave hands in the air now.
The time: early 1973. The place: a quiet little Ontario town beside a beautiful river. We are eavesdropping on a group of friends who are enjoying a vaudeville show; a fundraiser organised by the Ladies Auxiliary to the Chamber of Commerce. Jan Ferguson leans in to her friend Mary Lomax and says: “We could do something like that here!” After the show, Mary insists that they find the director Dan Darling and ask advice. His response is: “you get me the people and I will get you the show.”
Fast forward to the fall of 1973 and the curtain is rising on the stage of the Carleton Place High School. The show is titled Songs From the Attic. The rest, as they say, is history. The Mississippi Mudds of Carleton Place are born.
Little did those first performers know that they were ushering in 50 fabulous years of live theatre in their hometown. Who could have imagined then that the “MUsic Dance and Drama on Stage” that their acronym name stands for would become a promise fulfilled for five decades?
It is now July 2022. The Mudds are determined to celebrate the fact that their 50th season is just beginning. This summer they are focused on three things: honouring the past, celebrating the present, and building for the future.
To honour that colourful past, the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum is hosting a wonderful exhibit to tell the story of this not-for-profit theatre group. Spotlight on the Mudds is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1–4pm, until September 3. Do go to see it. The Museum itself is a local gem that is always finding ways to celebrate, entertain and inform. Also look for the Mudds story being featured when you go to the Carleton Place library.
To celebrate the present, many members are dreaming of ways to pop up and meet you around town over the summer. They need to air some of their past costumes and test their improv skills. They will be ready to tell you their story and invite you to be a part of the Mudds future, as a volunteer or in the audience.
Speaking of the future, like many theatre organisations the Mississippi Mudds are emerging from a difficult time. Their home theatre in the historic Carleton Place Town Hall auditorium was forced to go dark. Shows on the cusp of production were postponed and then cancelled. But hope is rising. Many local businesses, Mudds members and patrons have helped out financially. Now, although money is still tight, the Mudds are excited to get back to their core business of putting on shows. Details are being finalised as I write this, but we know for sure they currently have two major shows in the works for the 2022/23 Season. Elf the Musical is scheduled for November 2022, and The Sound of Music is planned for the spring of 2023.
More details can be found at <mississippimudds.ca>. Like us on Facebook and Instagram @Themississippimuddscp, on TikTok @Mississippimudds, and look for tickets to go on sale at <ticketsplease.ca>.
If you would like more information about volunteering or becoming a patron, please visit <mississippimudds.ca>, where you will find a button to donate by PayPal or credit card. We appreciate your support in any form!
The Perth & District Library is pleased to launch this year’s TD Summer Reading Club — Canada’s biggest bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, all interests and all abilities. This free program is co-created and delivered by more than 2,000 public libraries across Canada. It celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories. It’s designed to inspire kids to explore the fun of reading their way — the key to building a lifelong love of reading.
The Perth Library will be offering the Summer Reading Club to everyone of all ages. Track your reading and you can win prizes! Register at the library or online at <perthunionlibrary.ca>. You get a free book when you register, and you can do so anytime through the summer!
Children ages 0–12 are invited to pick up a free summer reading backpack filled with activities from the Library when they register for the Club. There will be prizes awarded for the most books read, as well as a draw for two new bikes generously donated by Canadian Tire, Perth. The library will also be offering in-person programs Monday–Thursday aimed at ages 5–12, and Babytime in Stewart Park on Tuesdays at 10:30am.
“This year’s theme is Myths and Legends,” explains Heidi Taber, the library’s Children & Teen Services Specialist. “We have engaging fun programs planned for the summer that will see the community enjoying all that the library has to offer,” she adds.
For teens and adults, there will be a monthly draw for prizes. You can also borrow the eBook or audiobook of The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake from the digital collection with no waitlists or holds, from July 13–27, as part of the Big Library Read.
To register, and to learn more about events offered throughout the summer, visit <perthunionlibrary.ca>. To learn more about the TD Summer Reading Club, visit <tdsummerreadingclub.ca>.
The Rotary Club of Arnprior is hosting its first annual Butter Tart Festival to be held on Saturday, August 27 in the beautiful Robert Simpson Park on John Street N. in Arnprior, overlooking the historic Ottawa river. The park will be in spectacular full bloom at this time of the year. It will be a great way to wrap up your summer, enjoying everyone’s favourite — butter tarts — as well as relaxing by the water and taking in the entertainment and various vendor displays.
The Festival will run from 9:30am to 4pm, and admission is free! Your four-legged friends are also welcome on their leashes. Children can run loose, but need parental guidance.This is an opportunity to recover from two years of Covid restrictions. Besides the tarts, and artisans displays and sales, the focus of the day will be on children’s activities featuring Little Ray’s Reptiles from 1–2pm.
There will also be a performance by Arnprior School of Dance, games, face painting and the park’s splash pad and play structures for them to explore and enjoy.Jason Marshall of Valley Heritage Radio will be the Master of Ceremonies for the events of the day, as well as helping judge the entries for the best butter tart (in the world!). The competition for Best Butter Tart will run from noon until 1pm.
The Rotary Club is reaching out to bakers, artisans and crafters to display and sell their wares. Remember — this is a tarts and ARTS festival! For vendor information and registration, please go to <ArnpriorRotary.ca>, visit them on Facebook or phone 623–6726. Let’s make this a fun day for everyone!
If summer had an official bird, it could be the Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula). With his glowing colours and vivacious song, this flashy bird is the embodiment of summer’s bright sunny days; after all, the word “oriole” comes from the Latin aureolus, meaning “golden”. The first part of the bird’s name comes from Lord Baltimore, the 17th century founder and patron of the Maryland colony, whose coat of arms bears the colours proudly displayed by this beautiful songbird.
Baltimore orioles spend the winter in southern Mexico, South America or the Caribbean; in early May, the males make their arrival in eastern Ontario several days before the females to claim a territory. Brilliant, radiant and vivid all apply to describe the male Baltimore oriole with his deep orange breast, belly, shoulder patch and rump. He wears a black hood and attractive black and white stripes on his wings. At three or four years old, his orange plumage glows like a torch.
The adult female has a muted orange-yellow breast and belly, a brownish back, and darker wings with white bars.
The juvenile male oriole resembles the female but with a darker head; he doesn’t get his full colours until the fall of his second year.
Measuring between seventeen and twenty-two centimeters in length, Baltimore orioles have a sturdy body and longish tail. Their fairly long legs and thick, pointed bill show a tinge of blue.
Orioles are monogamous but are solitary outside mating season. In early spring males are silent, but once the females arrive the singing begins — a bold, jaunty flute-like whistle, with frequent variations among individuals. The male’s courtship display consists of singing and chattering while hopping from perch to perch in front of the female.
One of the great wonders of the bird world is the basket-like hanging nest built solely by the female oriole. She begins by suspending strings, usually at the end of a drooping branch, to form the frame for her masterpiece. Then, it takes her five to eight days to weave together hundreds of long strands of grass and other plant material — also animal hair, yarn and string — until her showpiece is completed. Oriole nests are very sturdy and can withstand winds and storms for three to four years. The birds often reuse them for a second season.
The female lays three to seven eggs, pale gray to bluish white. The incubation period is twelve to fourteen days. After hatching, the nestlings are fed by both parents. The young leave the nest about two weeks after hatching and become mostly independent shortly after.
Baltimore orioles eat insects, fruit and nectar, depending on the season. In early spring and late summer they seek out nectar and ripe fruit such as oranges — a most appropriate fruit for this bird, as it matches his attire! Special oriole feeders are available both for nectar and orange slices. The sugar water recipe is the same as for hummingbirds: one part sugar to four parts water boiled and cooled.
In summer, while breeding and tending to their young, Baltimore orioles feed on a wide variety of insects including beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, moths and flies, as well as spiders, snails and other small invertebrates.
Baltimore orioles have always favored elm trees for nesting. However, from 1966 to 2015 their population decreased by more than 1.5% annually due to Dutch elm disease, which destroyed a great number of the majestic trees. Orioles have had to adapt and now nest in cottonwood, maple, willow or apple trees. To attract them, plant nectar-bearing flowers, raspberries, crab apples and trumpet vines. Both males and females are also easy to attract to bird feeders supplied with fruit or sugar water.
Baltimore orioles forage for insects in the treetops, so look way up into the canopy to find one of these superb vocalists. You shouldn’t have too much trouble: that radiant orange bird glows like a torch.
I was in the garden yesterday lamenting the chewed zinnia and marigold seedlings, when I turned around to find the bladderwort and wild asters have inundated the hostas until I can hardly see them. That happened overnight, I swear. The wild bluebells are everywhere, invading the lilies, poking through the phlox, hiding the roses even. And what’s with the hops vine? I’d need a machete to chop that thing back. What’s not supposed to grow is lush; what’s supposed to be lovely is languishing!
I’ve got a sweet daylily, a delicate yellow that I transplanted along with some native grasses a couple of years ago, and up to last week it was coming along well. Yesterday it had disappeared under a morass of weeds. I despair at times.
Weeding is a useless task, not unlike dusting, but there comes a time when I have to haul out the big guns and do it right. There’s only one method: put on the work boots, get out the big shovel and the wheelbarrow, and — head down — start at one end, and don’t look up until I get to the other end. The farther along I go, the more junk gets tossed. Occasionally I reef out something valuable, but with a quick “oops”, I shove it back in place and hope for the best.
My garden isn’t a Martha Stewart picture of perfection, but more a jumble of things that flower. Part of my plan is to make it so thick with plants that multiply, you won’t be aware of the weeds. The second part of the plan is if weed has a decent flower it can stay until it’s invasive. That’s when the big shovel needs to come out.
Here’s part three of the garden plan: when things really get beyond even the shovel, I get out the mower, which is essential for the periwinkle or for goutweed which my sister and I lovingly call “bugger weed.”
My neighbour and I constantly try to beat back the sapling growth between our gardens. There are gooseberry and raspberry plants with roots half a kilometre long, there are poplar saplings that grow a foot a day if left to their own devices, there are bittersweet vines and creeping whatever that drive us both to distraction. Last year we had a pristine area that must have been an invitation to every weed seed blowing our way, because this year it’s all overgrown again.
Only a few weeks ago it was a veritable blue lake of forget-me-nots; this week it’s a veritable brown mass of very prickly seed heads that stick to my gloves, my jeans and my dogs! Lovely! Along with that, there’s a weed that gets a delicate wee white flower that turns into what we call beggar’s lice. This thing is easy to pull out before it flowers, so when I’m on the weed rampage I can pull out reams of it in no time flat.
I think it’s related to the unaptly named Obedience plant, the way the roots travel and sprout. The problem is, if both aren’t removed before they get to overrunning the whole flower bed, they’re nearly impossible to eradicate.
In an effort to start a rock garden, I was foolish enough to buy stone crop. Don’t ever do that unless you want to cover your whole lawn with it. No wonder it’s called a prehistoric plant. It resists every attempt to destroy it, and now it’s all over our stone patio, into the lawn area, throughout the rock garden, and I even found it under the deck! If you leave even one teensy bract, you will have another mass of it within days. The weeding rampage can go wacky on that stuff.
And here’s the clincher: I dump all these weeds in a huge hole in the woods. After 27 years you’d think the hole would be full, but no, stuff is rotting down in there, I guess. But it’s also a hotbed for weed conspiracy. No matter how often I bury stuff, it keeps popping up from the depths of the pile. I whack it down, and still I’m finding stonecrop, obedience plant, and now mustard. It’s enough to make me question my sanity in even trying to weed.
So you can see that I spend a lot of time outside, running from one area to another, whining that the weeds are thwarting my efforts. It’s hopeless and I know the only day every bed will look good is the first day it snows a foot. But in the meantime, I’ll give it my best shot. There was a time I suggested I’d host a Weedfest here in the summer, but I’d best not wait for that. I’ll run out there this morning and see what needs attention. It gives a whole new meaning to “Bottoms Up” when I start hauling out the invaders.
… and a lot of it is being spilled! The sheriff is out of town with his posse chasing a bank robber — but was there even a robbery? The only deputies left to maintain law and order are Hank and Percival Potts. Hank is a drunk and Potts cannot even ride his pony, Butterscotch. Thank goodness for the arrival of… The Lone Rider.
Dry Stone is a town full of people with secrets. Why is the Lone Rider really here? Whose hand is holding the latest murder weapon? Is Rose a “self-made” widow? Who wrote the unsigned note? So many questions, such complications. It is lucky there is a narrator to guide us through it; however, that results in more puns than guns.
Brent McLaren is directing this riotous, rambunctious and rattling-good cowboy (and cowgirl) play. Because of personal reasons, Brent has been living in a somewhat isolated world for over three years. He is now coming out of this extended hibernation and returning to one of the things he loves the most, the smell of the theatre. Brent doesn’t remember a time in his life when he has not been performing in one way or another. While at university back in 1972 and totally by accident, he ended up involved in the musical direction of a production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. Since then, he has been either acting, teching, designing, building, painting, directing or doing something related to the stage.
Katherine Hooton is, in cowboy parlance, his “sidekick”, and says “she is having a blast.” She started volunteering with Studio Theatre in Front of House, and has worked in many positions: costume designer, assistant stage manager, and now stage manager.
The visual component of a play is important, and part of that is the costumes. Ann Hawthorne is the costumer. Her main objective is to make sure the clothing gives the audience cues about the character’s situation in life, and their personality. No historical accuracy or realism is needed when the story line is as outlandish as this one. Whether your idea of the “old west” is Gunsmoke or Deadwood, you will feel transported to another time, even if you are not quite sure what time you are visiting.
Jeremy Dutton is the “Foley Artist”, but that just means that he has no lines to remember. He sits at a table and gets to make noises that he hasn’t made since he was last reading bedtime stories to his kids!
The experience of this cast of four women and three men runs from “too many years to remember” to “first time on this stage”, but they are all united in their agreement that this is a romp that is as much fun for the cast as for the audience.
The play opens on Thursday July 28 and runs July 29 & 30 and August 4, 5 and 6 at 7:30pm. Matinees are on Sunday, July 31 and Sunday, August 7 at 2pm. All performances will be held at Studio Theatre Perth on Gore Street. Tickets are $24 and can be purchased at <ticketsplease.ca> or by calling 485–6434. Tickets are also available at the door. For more information, please visit <studiotheatreperth.com>.
The Lone Rider is proudly sponsored by Fall River Fashions on Gore Street in Perth.
The Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) is a volunteer-based charity committed to ensuring that wild landscapes are protected for us, our children and grandchildren. MMLT stewards ten wilderness properties (over 3,200 acres) in the region — some of which it owns, other lands on which it has a Conservation Agreement with the landowner.
Over the past few years, people have turned to nature by the thousands and the Land Trust has been pleased to welcome them to four properties with trails open to the public: High Lonesome Nature Reserve (Pakenham), cliffLAND (Blueberry Mountain near Lanark), Poole Family Nature Sanctuary (Carleton Place), and Rose Hill Nature Reserve (Denbigh).
On Saturday, July 16 at 8am, LAKE 88.1 FM will broadcast a one-hour Radiothon to benefit the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust on its About the House program, with special guest Dr. Paul Keddy.
“I have recently visited the new 200-acre Land Trust property in Mississippi Mills,” says Dr. Keddy. “The property will open this fall and has several special features that are ecologically important to the region. I’ll also speak about the huge storm the hit the Ottawa Valley at the end of May. Some were without power for more than a week. Roads and power lines were blocked with fallen trees. And, on Land Trust properties, trees were felled across many of our trails. It would be easy to assume that our properties in particular, and our forests in general, were harmed. Actually, it is not so. I have been asked to say something about the role of natural events like storms in forest ecology, and I hope you’ll join me for the discussion.”
Tune in to the Lake 88.1 Radiothon at 8am on Saturday, July 16 to enjoy the discussion and offer your support for the important work of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust. Phone lines will be open for donations from 8am until 6pm (253–2722). You can also donate online anytime at <mmlt.ca>.
This event is sponsored in part by Lake 88.1 FM, Somewhere Inn Calabogie, and KPMG.
Sivarulrasa Gallery has increased their exhibitions program! The Gallery now features three rotating shows in their Gallery I, Gallery II and Gallery III — all at 34 Mill Street in Almonte. All shows can be seen in-person during their regular hours: Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11am to 5pm, and Sundays from 11am to 4pm.
From June 22 to July 29, the Gallery is presenting George Horan: Boundaries, a solo exhibition of new paintings by Newfoundland-based artist George Horan in Gallery I. Based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Horan’s work is inspired by the Newfoundland coastal landscape. He began exhibiting his paintings and other works in 1980. “For me, painting is the pursuit of my obsession with the mysterious and the beautiful,” he says. While this new body of work is based primarily in Newfoundland, it also includes works from the artist’s travels in Alberta and British Columbia. “These paintings explore the ephemeral and the permanent in life. The boundary between the two elements is often ambiguous as is also the case in our environment and in ourselves. The paintings in this exhibition are all of places that speak to me of their struggles. There is a transcendent beauty in this, sustained by the light and dark.”
Jane Irwin: Seeing Double, a thought-provoking installation of works on paper and found objects by Toronto-based artist Jane Irwin, continues in Gallery II until July 8. The works in this installation are inspired by the female form of the dressmaker’s mannequin and discarded objects such as metal fragments, pieces of fishing net, and feathers that the artist has collected.
Mirana Zuger: Srce I Ruku runs in Gallery III until July 22, featuring two immersive canvases by Ottawa-based artist Mirana Zuger. The show title “srce i ruku” means “heart and hand” in the Croatian language. The two paintings in the exhibition, Conte de fée and Capreolus Capreolus, painted in Montreal in 2010, pay homage to the artist’s French-Canadian and Croatian heritage.
Please visit <sivarulrasa.com> for more information.
The Humm team recently received an intriguing call from our friend and former family doctor Anne Oldfield. It turns out that Anne and her husband (fellow former GP Cecil Rytwinski) recently purchased a well-established vineyard in Prince Edward County! As newly-minted owners of Three Dog Winery <threedogwine.com>, they have joined forces with a few friends and family members to take on this exciting challenge. We definitely wanted to find out more details…
theHumm: This is quite the retirement plan! Has owning a vineyard been a long-held dream of yours, or did the opportunity present itself at the perfect time?
Anne Oldfield: I’ve always loved all those movies about people who go off to France and buy a winery, but we always saw ourselves as family docs and never considered such a seismic shift.
Was it a retirement plan? Absolutely not! It has been one of those wonderful moments of serendipity that come along only a few times in your life.
It started on a bike trip to Osoyoos wineries a few years ago, when our sons Adam and Andrew made a pact that they would one day open a winery together.
In December 2020, while home for Christmas, Adam proposed that now was the time. After initial incredulousness, we recognized what a wonderful family project and legacy this could be. He was willing to give up mountain climbing in BC. Andrew was eager to develop his skills as a winemaker. And being semi-retired, Cecil and I had the luxury of time to become involved. We started researching wineries and reaching out for advice. This led to weekly Zoom meetings, hours spent in research, and developing business models and proposals. After a long search and several dead ends, we found our dream property — and the rest is history.
What are some of the features of this winery that made it so appealing to you?
We had originally planned to buy undeveloped land or a vineyard and develop our own winery. Then we saw Three Dog and fell in love. It is a beautiful property with a well-established infrastructure and loyal clientele.
The farm is almost 100 acres with a 10-acre vineyard, a sugar bush, sugar shack, beautiful walking trails and lots of room for expansion. There is a tasting room and patio overlooking the vineyard, a wood-fired pizza oven, an Airbnb above an event space, a well-equipped production building, and a house.
Best of all, it’s the closest winery in Prince Edward County to Ottawa and the Valley!
Who else will be coming on board to assist in this venture, and what roles will everyone play?
This is a true Lanark County project — in addition to Adam, Andrew, Cecil and me, Kyle Lowry (from Almonte) and Andrew’s fiancée Sarah (from near Richmond) have been involved from the start.
Andrew, who is a trained winemaker and has been working in Niagara wineries, is our winemaker. He has been mentored by some of the best Canadian winemakers and is excited to develop his own line of wines. Adam, who is an IT consultant and has been mountain climbing in BC for the past several years, is our general manager, IT specialist, gardener and dog wrangler.
Kyle Lowry, who grew up working on family farms, left his job in movie production to become the vineyard manager. Sarah Coffin has an extensive background in fashion, media and esthetics. She is managing the tasting bar, Airbnb and events.
I will be managing the Wine Club and working in the tasting bar. Cecil works as a greeter, handyman, gardener and head of morale. Red Dog, Adam’s six-month-old Red Fox Lab, was born on Wolfgrove Road. He is the face of the winery — and definitely the star of the show.
Will you be continuing to offer some of the same products and services that Three Dog Winery has become known for? Are there any new initiatives you are looking forward to implementing?
Three Dog Winery has a wonderful, loyal clientele and we will continue to produce their favourites. We will also continue the wines presently available at the LCBO.
Andrew has recently purchased several gorgeous French and American oak barrels. He has been busily reorganizing the production building and will be starting to blend his first Three Dog wines in the next few weeks. In addition to our fun, easy drinking wines, he will be developing a premium line. Over time, as we plant more vines — initially more Pinot noir and Chardonnay — he will also be expanding our estate wines. We will also be introducing sparkling wine, low-alcohol wines and spritzers, as well as a non-alcoholic wine.
We presently have live music on the patio every weekend. In future, we hope to have larger events and pop-up chefs.
We also hope to make the winery a four-season destination with guided snowshoeing in winter and an active sugar shack in the spring. We will also be setting up guided wine tastings and dinners in our event space. I would also love to partner with a bookstore or library for a monthly book club with wine and pizza.
We also hope to host weddings and family events on the property. The first will be at the end of August this year with Andrew and Sarah’s wedding.
How has the reception been from people in Prince Edward County so far? Are you looking forward to seeing friends and acquaintances from Lanark County visit this summer?
The former owners were well-loved in the County and will be missed. But the community has embraced us with open arms and are excited by the changes we are starting to make.
We have been a little bit busy since we took over on April 20. But one of the most valuable things we learned in Almonte is the importance of community — and as soon as things calm down a little we plan to get to know the County better and become active, involved members of the community.
We are anxious to introduce all our friends and neighbours in Lanark County to our little piece of heaven. Please drop in for some wine and a visit — no reservations needed.
We have also started a Three Dog Winery Wine Club. Every three months, we can personally deliver six bottles of some of the best wine in the County to your door.
Cecil and I are splitting our time between Almonte and the winery. Every day, I am amazed by the beauty and serenity of the property. As I see people relaxing around the fire or spending quality time with family or chatting with strangers who now feel like friends over a glass of wine, it reminds me of how important that human connection is. And I love that we can create an environment that makes our guests’ day maybe just a little bit better.
I hope we will see you soon.
Visit <threedogwine.com> or follow them on Facebook for more details.
“Learning Again in Almonte” will be offering exciting courses to make learning fun this fall. A new planning committee has been working with the library and has enlisted three dynamic instructors to start off this new season of classes.
Tony Belcourt is the founding president of the Native Council of Canada and is recognised internationally at the United Nations and other organizations. He will be offering four two-hour classes on subjects including “Indigenous Ceremonies — Unravelling the Mysteries” and “Indigenous Contemporary Life, Arts, and Expressions.” Tony Belcourt is a wonderful teacher, and we are so lucky to be able to learn from him.
Valerie Steeves has been talking to young people online for over twenty years, and what they have to say might surprise you! Val will bring her unique perspective to talking about a range of internet issues. She will talk about the privacy debate, how tech giants are working to steer the democratic process, and how e-toys manipulate kids. Come learn about how online life is shaping the lives of Canadians, young and old. Val is a professor at the University of Ottawa in the Faculty of Social Services and the co-leader of the eQuality Project <equalityproject.ca>.
A sought-after instructor since the founding days of Learning in Almonte, Tom Shoebridge will bring a feature film to view every week for six weeks. We will not know in advance what the film will be, and we will also not know the decade or country of origin of Tom’s choice. Afterwards there will be a free-wheeling discussion of the film that explores the creation, crafting and more about the week’s presentation. Tom Shoebridge has been a professor of communications, film and television, a film reviewer and a screenwriting lecturer. An experienced teacher, he ran the Canadian Screen Training Center for 29 years. He loves teaching this course, and in the past his class has filled up on the first day of registration.
Our new learning program has its roots in the Learning in Almonte program that was founded by Don Wiles in 2008, and later continued by Clair ApSimon, Marny McCook and Glenda Jones. Covid brought the end of this enriching community program in 2020. Jane Ellens, a relative newcomer to Almonte, did not want to let this great community tradition go, so she is now heading up a strong committee eager to open doors again to learning in Almonte. With courses to suit diverse interests and foster new community partnerships, we look forward to enlivening experiences for many tastes.
Watch for more information from us as the summer progresses. A course registry will become available in August. To learn more about “Learning Again in Almonte”, join our mailing list by emailing <learningagainalmonte@gmail.com>.
See you in September!