Poker Run is still a drawing card
Crowd at waterfront waits for arrival of high-speed performance
boats
By Monica Whitney, Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - The thunder of performance boating at lightning
speeds roared into Prescott harbour Saturday afternoon, capturing
the attention of spectators at the marina and along the town's
waterfront.
Prescott was a card stop in the annual Poker Run - a game
of chance and an assembly of some of the hottest, fastest and
most exotic boats in North America. It is the largest off-shore
international poker run challenge on the continent.
The 1000 Islands Poker Run began in Gananoque earlier Saturday
morning with 152 offshore high performance sport boats ranging
in length between 28 and 50 feet that can travel more than 75
mph.
Each participating boat navigates a carefully charted 210-kilometre
course, stopping at five checkpoints along the route to pick
up a sealed envelope containing a single playing card. At the
final checkpoint, the envelopes are opened and the crew holding
the best poker hand is declared the winner.
Other card stops besides Prescott and Gananoque (the start
and finish location) were Alexandria Bay, N.Y., Brockville and
Rockport.
Spectators in Prescott were able to view up close 35 boats
under 35 feet in length. Many engine hatches were open for viewing,
and crews showed off the machines to the curious onlookers that
packed the marina area.
Prescott senior dock hand Marc LaSalle estimated more than
500 people flocked to the harbour itself, while many hundreds
more lined the banks of the river from east of the marina to
the west end of the municipal dock. The town was noticeably busier
throughout Saturday.
Poker Run Association committee member Nick Bowles explained
the longer boats would have difficulty manoeuvering in the smaller
Prescott marina. While he stressed the harbour is beautiful,
it can be precarious for catamarans or boats more than 40 feet
in length, especially if there is a strong south-west wind.
Spectator traffic was excellent and enthusiastic all along
the course, Bowles said, despite a delay of about one-and-a-half
hours. He explained a contributing factor was dealing with U.S.
Customs at Alexandria Bay, N.Y., but stressed the officials were
"being diligent and doing their job correctly."
As well, the breakdown of the Power Boating Canada Magazine
head pace boat caused some confusion among participants along
the course, who were instructed not to pass the lead. The boat
was a 43-foot machine with twin 900 hp engines that can travel
between 110-115 mph. Once alternate pace boats were put into
action, "it was regular rock 'n roll," Bowles said.
With an event of this size and scope, and because about 50
more boaters than expected registered to participate, the morning
start time was delayed as well, he said.
Historically, Poker Run participants are always a little late
in reaching the cards stops, Bowles explained, but noted organizers
had no control over this year's lengthy delay. "You have
to live with it."
Because of the delay, some of the boaters chose to not make
the Prescott stop, and decided to just return to Gananoque after
the Brockville stop, he noted.
Bowles added staff at the Prescott harbour "always treat
us like gold. They're perfect; that's all I can say."
The financial impact of the three-day festival and actual
Poker Run on the communities of Gananoque, Brockville and Prescott
is enormous, Bowles said. Using an Ontario government tourism
formula, Bowles explained about $1.2 million finds its way into
the three areas. After that initial money filters down through
the economy, it's worth about $5 million to the area.
"That's putting a nickel in everybody's pocket somewhere,"
he said. "It's real big business."
As well, the three communities receive about $250,000 worth
of free advertising and promotion annually through the sponsor
of the event, Power Boating Canada. The communities have become
known internationally through that company's Web site, magazines,
programs and brochures advertising the event, he said. Many of
the participants, some from as far as Texas, Florida and Illinois,
often return to vacation here because they are "just blown
away" by the beautiful St. Lawrence River and the scenery,
Bowles said.
Annual event gives tourism a boost
Organizer Nick Bowles
Municipal building details discussed
Construction manager meets with Prescott council to review
town hall renovation options
By Tim Ruhnke, Journal Editor
PRESCOTT - Some things have to stay and some things can go.
That was the verdict Monday as Prescott council met to once
again review plans to renovate the Dibble Street municipal building.
Brad Snelling of D.C. Snelling Ltd., and David Poole and Larry
Fancy of Eastern Engineering, were on hand to discuss possible
changes to existing renovation plans.
At a recent meeting, council members came up with numerous
suggestions of how costs could be reduced.
Council agreed earlier this year to set a cap of $800,000
on the renovation project.
The focus of this phase of renovations would be on the municipal
office portion of the building. Town officials hope detailed
renovations to the public library would be done at a later time.
Some cost-cutting suggestions made by councillors were eliminated
from further consideration at Monday's meeting. A rear entrance
with easy access to the parking lot will be retained, and the
number of proposed public washrooms will not be reduced.
However, there were some areas in which many council members
agreed options could be considered. One of the major items being
reviewed is the type of windows that will be used. The amount
of drywall to be added to the building is also being studied.
There were also smaller items such as whether to use vinyl
or ceramic tile in washrooms.
"I'm just going to look at different options... and lay
them all out in front of you," Snelling said.
"A lot of it will come down to personal preference."
Snelling noted he has enough information with which to obtain
quotes from subcontractors and put together the information council
needs to make decisions on elements of the project. He will also
produce a construction schedule; although officials noted they
would not want any roof work to be done during the winter, other
aspects of the project could be done at that time.
Snelling said some of the trades are expecting a slow winter
season; this could mean lower prices from bidders.
Snelling indicated it would likely take three to four weeks
to obtain prices on various components of the renovation project.
The next meeting involving the construction manager and council
may take place at the end of September or early in October.
The six members of the public who were on hand at the start
of the meeting were long gone when the session came to an end
after more than two hours.
"It took awhile," Mayor Robert Lawn said at the
end of the meeting. "I think we made some good progress."
Food bank to open next Tuesday
By Tim Ruhnke, Journal Editor
PRESCOTT - An important community resource will return to
the Prescott area next week.
The Food For All Food Bank is scheduled to open Tuesday, Sept.
4 at 10 am. The new facility is located across from the Prescott
Legion on Henry Street.
Jennifer Wyman, volunteer co-ordinator at the food bank, indicated
many months of hard work and organizing are about to pay off.
Thanks to corporate donations and volunteer labour, the facility
that most recently had served as a storage area has been converted
to a furnished food depot and office. More recently, about 500
food items and a small amount of cash was collected during a
door-to-door blitz held Saturday in parts of Prescott. Several
members of the local Air Cadet squadron took part in the event.
Hundreds of food items were donated last month as part of
the frozen T-shirt and shorts competition held in the clock tower
parking lot as part of Christmas in July celebrations.
It is also hoped additional donations will be received prior
to next week's opening. Wyman noted there is a need for sugar-free
or sodium-reduced food items that can be eaten by people who
have diabetes or are on restricted diets.
The food bank will be open to the public Tuesdays, Wednesday
and Thursdays from 10 am to 2 pm.
Residents of Prescott, Augusta and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal who
would like to use the services of the food bank will be required
to provide proof of monthly income, rent receipts and other documentation
with which volunteers can determine eligibility.
"I don't want to regulate everybody," Wyman said.
"I want them to feel they can come here."
However, she added there are basic ground rules that must
be followed. Clients will be permitted one container of food
and household items per month.
The names of clients will be forwarded to a master list of
food bank users in the region. One of the purposes of maintaining
such a list is to prevent abuse of the system. Clients will be
asked to sign a form indicating they are not seeking support
from other food banks.
All food bank volunteers must sign confidentiality forms and
are not permitted to disclose personal information about clients
to anyone else.
Food For All is not affiliated with any specific church or
service club; it is run by a volunteer board of directors which
represents each community in South Grenville.
For more information, call the food bank at 925-2444.
It has been several years since Prescott has had a food bank.
The local ministerial association has been issuing food vouchers
in recent years.
THIS WEEK
Offices will be closed to mark Labour Day
PRESCOTT The offices of The Prescott Journal
and St. Lawrence Printing will be closed Monday, Sept. 2 for
Labour Day.
The deadline for display and classified advertising in the
Sept. 4 edition of The Journal is Friday, Aug. 30 at noon.
Banks, government offices and most retailers will also be
closed Monday.
Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and Prescott council meetings will be
held Tuesday night instead of Monday.
Be prepared to stop for school buses
SOUTH GRENVILLE The arrival of the new school year brings
with it a reminder for drivers to use caution when approaching
school buses.
Officers with the Prescott Police Service and the Grenville
County OPP detachment will be on the lookout next week for motorists
who pass school buses with their red warning lights flashing.
In addition to receiving a possible fine and demerit points,
drivers who do not obey the law may also be putting the safety
of children at risk.
Motorists are also being reminded to slow down near school
yards and stop for pedestrians at marked crosswalks on Edward
Street in Prescott.
Unacceptable bacteria levels return to beach
PRESCOTT Kelly's Beach is once again off limits to swimmers
because of unacceptable bacteria levels.
Water samples taken late last week prompted the closure, the
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit reported Friday.
Elevated bacteria levels are often caused by recent rainfall
that washes human and animal wastes into the river.
Swimmers are at greater risk of getting ear infections, skin
irritation and gastrointestinal illnesses as bacteria levels
increase.
A sign warning swimmers not to go into the water was posted
Friday.
Samples are taken weekly in July and August at Kelly's Beach
and more than 20 other public beaches in the region. For a complete
list of beach closures, visit www.healthunit.org.
Flashing signals return
PRESCOTT Traffic signals at the intersection of King
and St. Lawrence streets will return to flashing mode by early
next week.
Prescott council agreed earlier this year to have the green,
amber and red signals on during the day and switch to flashing
red and amber at night. This arrangement is to remain in effect
until the Labour Day weekend, at which point the flashing lights
will remain activated 24 hours a day.
New landscaping business beginning to take shape
PRESCOTT - Andrew Hare is shaping his own future with his
company Pro Image Landscaping.
Hare opened his landscaping business in April after using
his experiences from working under Joey McFarland of Riverview
Landscaping for three to four years.
"Working under Joey, I learned the tricks of the trade
and was able to take that with me," explained Hare. "He
was very supportive of me, always ready to lend some advice or
give me a hint if I ask."
Hare says the support he received from his family, girlfriend
and friends was what helped him get everything under way.
"My aunt Suzanne (Dodge) was a great help," says
Hare. "She works in marketing design in Ottawa and she came
up with the name, design, business cards, letterheads and registered
the business all free of charge."
Hare figured if he was able to secure two months worth of
jobs he would be able to make a go of it.
"I started out doing everything myself," explained
Hare. "But because of the demand for our services, I hired
students I knew from South Grenville District High School on
for crews of two and now three."
Pro Image has not advertised his business, but due to word
of mouth was able to ensure a summer's worth of work - even booking
jobs for next year.
Hare figures to take night courses at Algonquin College during
the off season winter months to gain skills to help him out with
business and tax aspects of his company.
"I am going to get schooling," says Hare. "But
my goal is to keep this business going as long as possible.
"Starting my own company at 21 years old is a big step,
but it's been fun," says Hare. "You can't test the
world by sitting on your couch eating a bag of chips or playing
Nintendo.
"Hardwork, determination and ambition will bring you
valuable results."
The summer has brought 15 to 20 jobs to Pro Image Landscaping
including jobs in Brockmere Cliffs, Johnstown and Ottawa.
Hare's jobs have been very diverse, including interlocking
patios, driveways, pathways, retaining walls, pre-fab work, steps
and even ponds.
For more information contact Hare at 341-6749 or 925-1650.
Annual Labour Day Festival in North Augusta
offers fun for all ages
NORTH AUGUSTA - This year's Labour Day Festival in North Augusta
will once again offer a wide variety of events and activities
for people of all ages.
The fun begins this Friday evening with the opening of the
bavarian gardens (which open at noon Saturday, Sunday and Monday)
and lobe-ball and euchre tournaments.
The ball tournament resumes Saturday at 8 am, the same time
a community yard sale begins. The early afternoon events include
a horseshoe tournament and gelatin eating contest. An adult tricycle
race at 4 pm promises to have the place hopping.
A loonie street dance kicks off at 6 pm.
An oldtimers' fastball tournament heads the list of Sunday
events. Fastball continues through the day and into Monday. The
North Augusta breakfast will be served at 9 am. A gospel hour
will be presented at the United church.
Prince and princess and junior art contest results will be
posted later that morning; with the kids' scavenger hunt beginning
at 10 am.
Church brunch will be presented at 11 am.
A car rally will get rolling at 1 pm. An evening of karaoke
entertainment takes centre stage beginning at 6 pm.
The fourth and final day of the festival kicks off with a
parade and horse show in the morning. Prizes will be awarded
for the top three themes and overall floats. Life will be sweet
at the pie booth which opens at 9 am.
Donations to the pie booth can be dropped off at the community
hall at 8 am.
The Labour Day parade begins at noon. Afternoon activities
include kids' races, bingo, frog jumping, log sawing and egg
throwing contests and a chicken barbecue.
Among the items listed for the entire weekend are canteen
and concession stands, kiddie amusements and frosty treats. Face
painting, cotton candy, popcorn and snow cones will be available
Monday.
Driver injured in two-vehicle accident dies
in hospital
SOUTH GRENVILLE A 76-year-old Prescott man who was one
of two drivers involved in a collision on County Road 26 east
of Maynard Aug. 8 has died.
The man passed away Saturday at Kingston General Hospital.
At the request of the family, police are not releasing the name
of the accident victim.
The man was driving a westbound car that attempted to make
a left turn into a private drive when it collided with a westbound
dump truck. The truck driver was uninjured; no charges were laid.
Canadian Tire job fair in Prescott attracts more than 500
applicants
By David Dickenson, Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - More than 500 people showed up at the Canadian
Tire job fair Tuesday Aug. 20 and Wednesday Aug. 21 to apply
for jobs with the new store in Prescott.
The fair was held by Canadian Tire in conjunction with the
Employment-Education Centre and St. Lawrence College to fill
the 50 temporary positions that will be available at the new
location of Canadian Tire.
The job fairs first day had more than 225 applicants who went
through the screening process by St. Lawrence College and the
Education Centre.
"We expected to get 300 to 400 people going through the
application process," explained manager of the Employment
Education Centre Larry Journal. "Tuesay morning when we
arrived to start there were already 65 to 75 people here waiting.
"Everyone was so patient and no one seemed to even complain
about the wait."
People were applying for temporary jobs with more than 20
to be asked to stay on as part-time or full-time employees. Early
estimates figured ten cashiers, two warehouse staff, 11 sales
people and one lube and installer are to be added to the current
staff.
"The screening process allowed for Canadian Tire to just
look at the top applicants who were singled out from the process,"
explained Journal. "We do this for a lot of companies looking
to hire people.
"It allows them to do everything in one or two days,
since they just deal with ones who made it through the screening
process."
Journal was impressed at the quality of prospective employees
who were part of the job fair.
"Overall, it was a great success."
The store will be opening Oct. 24 on Prescott Centre Drive.
Several changes made to list of principals
at elementary schools in South Grenville
SOUTH GRENVILLE - Students attending public and Catholic elementary
schools within South Grenville beginning next Tuesday will notice
several staff changes.
Bill Loshaw will be the principal at Benson Public School
in Cardinal, taking over from Donna Smith Reid. Loshaw had been
the vice-principal at Prince of Wales Public School in Brockville.
Wendy Porteous takes over as the head of Boundary Street Public
School in Prescott from Laurie McElheran, who has moved on to
Iroquois Public School. Porteous had been principal of Central
Public School, where Frank Beckstead will now be in charge.
At St. Mark Catholic School in Prescott, Kathy Laushway has
been appointed principal, replacing Judith Martin, who has retired.
Debbie Zabloski transfers as principal of St. Joseph Catholic
School in Prescott from St. Anne's Catholic School in Cornwall.
She replaces Alex Bujacz, who has moved on to St. Francis De
Sales school in Smiths Falls.
Principals who remain in place at local elementary schools
include Patricia Mayer at Algonquin Public School; Sheila Fawcett
at Centennial '67/North Edwardsburgh public schools; Rick Skinner
at Maitland and Maynard public schools; and Harold Hess at South
Edwardsburg Public School in Johnstown.
Ducks Unlimited banquet to be held in Roebuck
SOUTH GRENVILLE - The annual banquet of the Prescott-area
chapter of Ducks Unlimited will be held Friday, Sept. 20 at the
community hall in Roebuck.
Doors open at 6 pm; dinner will be served at 7 pm.
For tickets or more information, call Paul Van Luit at 925-3312,
Jim Holmes at 925-4800 or 925-5186, or Don Jones at 925-4233.
Food bank reaches out to local communities
at upcoming Labour Day festivals and fair
PRESCOTT - The Food For All Food Bank will be represented
at community events throughout the area in the next few weeks.
Volunteers from the new food bank will take part in parades
in Cardinal and North Augusta this long weekend, as well as the
Spencerville Fair parade Sept. 14.
Although the food bank is located in downtown Prescott, it
serves residents of Augusta and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal townships
in addition to people who live in Prescott.
Food collection barrels will also be set up this weekend at
the community festivals in Cardinal and North Augusta. Tickets
will be on sale for a draw; the top prize is a kid's battery-powered
remote-controlled truck and trailer set, and there are also two
grocery gift certificates to be won.
The Food For All food depot is located across from the Prescott
Legion on Henry Street. The new facility opens Tuesday, Sept.
4 and will be open each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from
10 am to 2 pm.
Two local churches to share one priest
Retirement of Father Bill Powell leads to changes in Cardinal
and Prescott
PRESCOTT Mass times at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
in Cardinal and St. Mark's Church in Prescott will be changing
to reflect the retirement of Father Bill Powell, the parish priest
at Cardinal.
Father John Appelman, pastor of St. Mark's parish, will take
charge of both churches, beginning Monday, Sept. 2.
Another priest was not available at this time to take over
for Father Powell in Cardinal, said the Chair of the Implementation
Committee for Needs of Parishes and Personnel with the Archdiocese
of Kingston, Father Charles Gazeley.
The size of the Sacred Heart congregation and its proximity
to Prescott also made the change feasible, Father Gazeley said.
The changes in mass times means Sacred Heart will lose its
Saturday evening mass, and the Saturday mass at St. Mark's will
begin at 5:15 pm. On Sundays, a 9 am mass will be celebrated
at Sacred Heart, and an 11 am mass will be held at St. Mark's.
Weekday masses have yet to be decided through consultation
with the parishioners and by individual parish committees, Father
Gazeley said. What will become of the rectory in Cardinal has
also not been decided at this time.
The two churches will continue to retain their status as separate
parishes, and one will not be a mission of the other, as is the
case with St. Theresa in North Augusta as a mission church of
St. Laurence O'Toole in Spencerville, he added.
The concept of having one priest looking after two parishes
is not new, Father Gazeley noted, and is known as parish clustering.
A special mass and farewell celebration honouring Father Powell
on his retirement took place in July. He has been the pastor
at Sacred Heart for 10 years.
Brothers sentenced in case which led to evacuation
of police and fire hall
PRESCOTT Two men have been sentenced in connection with
an incident that led to the evacuation of the Prescott police
and fire hall last August.
Two brothers were convicted in Brockville court last week.
Philip MacDonald, 33, of Ottawa, was sentenced to 90 days in
jail and one year of probation.
David MacDonald, 31, of Prescott, received a one-year conditional
sentence and a 10-year prohibition from owning or possessing
weapons. He was also ordered to serve one year of probation.
Both men pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice.
The older brother also pleaded guilty to assaulting two people,
a brother and sister. The younger brother was found guilty of
possessing a dangerous weapon (a knife).
In the early-morning hours of Aug. 23, Prescott police responded
to a disturbance at an apartment in the west end of town.
The two men brothers were arrested. A tear gas canister which
had reportedly been temporarily activated at the scene was seized
and transported to the police station.
Later that morning, the police and fire hall and nearby buildings
were evacuated. An Ontario Provincial Police bomb squad was called
in to dispose of the device. Clean-up of a powder discharged
in the building when the device was destroyed cost more than
$15,000; insurance covered most of those clean-up costs.
Two accidents cause
lengthy delays for eastbound traffic on Highway 401
PRESCOTT Emergency response personnel were kept busy
last Tuesday on Highway 401 in the Prescott area.
Two serious accidents in the eastbound lanes sent five people
to hospital and led to detours and delays for motorists.
The first collision occurred at about 5:15 pm at the Edward
Street interchange. A tractor trailer with a load of baled paper
was entering the eastbound lanes from the on ramp when the load
shifted; this caused the truck and trailer to flip onto the driver's
side and coming to rest in the passing lane.
An eastbound car driven by Michel Sabourin, 30, of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal,
was then struck from behind by a pick-up truck driven by Keith
Diabo, 46, of Kahnawake, Quebec. The car entered the median and
then the westbound lanes before coming to rest safely without
colliding with any oncoming vehicles. The pick-up truck, which
was towing a car on a trailer, went on to strike the back of
the tractor trailer; causing the towed trailer to jackknife.
The driver of the tractor trailer, Glen Canavan of Poltimore,
Quebec, and Sabourin were taken by ambulance to Brockville General
Hospital where they were treated and released. Diabo transported
himself to hospital and was also treated and released.
Weather and road conditions were good at the time of the accident.
Eastbound traffic was rerouted through Prescott and Johnstown
for several hours as police investigated the incident and debris
was cleared. The environment ministry was notified the tractor
trailer leaked a small amount of diesel fuel.
The Ministry of Transportation inspected the rig later in
the week. OPP Constable Holly Howard, community services officer
with the Grenville County detachment, told The Journal
the inspection did not reveal mechanical failure caused the accident.
Canavan was charged with the Highway Traffic Act offence
of having an insecure load on a commercial vehicle. He will appear
at a later date in Brockville court. The minimum fine for that
offence is $200; the maximum is $20,000.
SUV struck from behind
The second accident occurred just east of Blue Church Road
at about 10:30 pm. A sport utility vehicle (SUV) was slowing
down because of the back-up of traffic caused by the earlier
accident. An eastbound transport struck the car from behind;
the SUV rolled several times before coming to rest on its roof
in the right eastbound lane. The driver of the transport brought
his rig to a stop off to the right of the roadway.
The man and woman in the SUV sustained non-life threatening
injuries and were transported to Brockville General Hospital.
The transport driver, C-Troy Smith, 41, of Scarborough, was not
injured. He was charged with the Highway Traffic Act offence
of careless driving.
The second collision prompted the closure of the eastbound
401 at Maitland Road; the eastbound lanes in the Prescott area
reopened sometime after 2 am.
The Ministry of Transportation inspected the tractor trailer
the day after the accident, according to police.
Nothing reported missing
following break-ins
PRESCOTT Town police investigated 78 general incidents
and three motor vehicle accidents between Aug. 18 and Aug. 25.
On Aug. 23, police received a report a male had threatened
a female with a knife. The matter is under investigation and
charges are pending. Constable Mike Lapensee is the investigating
officer.
On Aug. 19, the Prescott Police Service received a report
from a resident of James Street West who said someone had attempted
to break into her shed the previous morning. A person was observed
running away from the shed. An examination of the shed revealed
the lock had been pried; however, no access was gained. Constable
Mike Ostrander is the investigating officer.
Police received a report of a break-in Aug. 21 at an apartment
on Edward Street. The front door had been forced open; nothing
was reported missing from the apartment. Constable Terry Foster
is the investigating officer.
Anyone with information on these or other offences in town
is asked to contact the Prescott Police Service at 925-4252 or
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Labour Day charity
golf tournament in Prescott still has a few openings
PRESCOTT There are still a few spots left in the "Dig
a Divot for Diabetes" Labour Day charity tournament being
held Monday at the Prescott Golf Club.
The four-person scramble tournament in support of the tri-county
branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association kicks off with a
shotgun start at 12:30 pm. Space is limited, and time is running
out to register. For more information, contact Darlean Coulter
at 925-5628 or by e-mail at coulter@recorder.ca.
Entry forms are available at the golf club and at the association's
office located at 65 King St. E. in Brockville.
OPP NEWS
False 9-1-1 calls place public at risk
SOUTH GRENVILLE Grenville County OPP are once again
alerting the public to the risks associated with placing false
9-1-1 calls.
Local officers responded to a number of false calls last week,
according to a police news release. Time spent by police officers
as well as fire and ambulance personnel dealing with false calls
may take time away from responding to actual emergencies.
"A delay in the officers' response time may have devastating
effects," the release stated.
Anyone caught making a false 9-1-1 call may be charged with
public mischief, an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Detachment responds to more than 100 calls
SOUTH GRENVILLE Members of the OPP detachment in Prescott
responded to 102 service calls between Aug. 19-25. Sixty-two
incidents occurred in Edwardsburgh/Cardinal; 40 were reported
in Augusta Township.
Spencerville Fair pageant for children
SPENCERVILLE There is still room for a few more contestants
in the third annual Little Sir and Little Miss Spencerville Fair
Pageant.
The pageant, which is open to boys and girls between the ages
of five and nine, will be held Friday, Sept. 13 at the Edwardsburgh
Community Centre. Contestants will participate in an interview
Friday afternoon and a public introduction at the event. Finalists
will be required to answer an impromptu question on stage at
the arena.
The first 10 girls and 10 boys to register will be accepted,
so space is limited. Anyone who knows a youngster who would be
a good ambassador for the fair is asked to contact Carol Cole
at 925-4304.
Re-enactment of 19th century funeral to be presented
MORRISBURG - As part of its series on celebrations of life
and death, Upper Canada Village (UCV) will be presenting "A
19th Century Funeral" re-enactment event this Sunday, Sept.
1, where visitors will gain dramatic insight into how many of
our present-day funeral customs have their roots in the past.
The funeral re-enactment will offer visitors a unique visual
experience using a family of fictitious characters who will demonstrate
how the rites of death were observed in the 1860s.
Beginning at 9:30 am to early afternoon, visitors are invited
to pay their respects to the deceased woman's family at the physician's
home. Mourning customs will be evident. At 1 pm, a cortege will
make its way to the church in an authentic 19th century hearse.
The funeral rites will take place inside the church and the
burial in the adjacent church yard. A traditional reading of
the will begins at 2:30 pm at the physician's home.
Other celebrations this fall at UCV include "Fall Gardens"
day Sept. 7, the "Fall Fair" on Sept. 14 and 15, a
quilt show Sept. 21 and 22, and "Preparing for Winter"
activities taking place from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6.
For more information, call 1-800-437-2233.
Spencerville Fair ambassador pageant contestants
must apply by this weekend
SPENCERVILLE - This Friday is the deadline to apply for the
Spencerville Fair Ambassador Pageant.
The competition, to be held Friday, Sept. 13 at the Edwardsburgh
Community Centre, is open to young men and women in Grenville
County who are between the ages of 17 and 23. Competitors will
be judged on their interview, community involvement, question
response, poise and personality.
Contestants do not need to live on a farm, nor do they need
to know a lot about agriculture. The successful contestant will
be eager and willing to learn about his or her community and
share enthusiasm for the fair with others.
The winner will represent the Spencerville Agricultural Society
for the duration of the fair and at community events throughout
the year.
For more information or to apply, call Paula Carmichael at
658-5258.
United Way cruise will be colourful
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE The annual autumn colours boat cruise
hosted by United Way of Leeds and Grenville will take place Sunday,
Sept. 29.
The three-hour cruise, courtesy of Hal McCarney of Gananoque
Boat Lines, will take the traditional route through the 1000
Islands and include a stop-over at Boldt Castle.
For more information or to reserve tickets, call the United
Way office at 342-8889.
New Canadian opera to debut in Brockville
BROCKVILLE - A new opera will soon be presented in the hometown
of its creators.
The Last Wife, composed by Howard Alexander with lyrics
by Deborah Dunleavy, will make its premiere performance Sept.
29 at the Brockville Arts Centre.
The one-act opera lasts about 90 minutes and features a cast
of 12 singers plus 11 musicians. The Last Wife tells the
story of one woman who must confront her own demons in order
to survive the journey from innocence to experience.
Alexander and Dunleavy received a grant from the Laidlaw Foundation
in 1999 to develop an opera inspired by the Bluebeard fairy
tale.
The Sept. 29 performance begins at 2 pm. For tickets, call
the arts centre at 342-7122.
Diabetes information nights presented monthly at Kemptville
District Hospital
KEMPTVILLE - Diabetes information nights will be presented
monthly at Kemptville District Hospital.
The first session took place earlier this month. The next
one will be held Tuesday, Sept. 3 from 7 to 8 pm in the classroom
at the hospital.
A presenter will speak for about 20 minutes at each meeting;
topics may include signs and symptoms of diabetes, complications,
blood testing and cooking.
Each presentation will be followed by a question period and
then refreshments; this will give participants an opportunity
to meet others who live with diabetes.
"No matter how old, how young, how educated, or how long
the person has been diagnosed, diabetes education makes a world
of difference," stated Brenda Quaile, diabetes nurse educator
at the hospital.
Admission is free. Information sessions are also planned for
October, November and December.
For more information, call Quaile at (613) 258-6300.
AIDS walk to be held in September
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE - Residents of Leeds and Grenville are
being asked to support an AIDS Walk to be held Saturday, Sept.
21 in Brockville.
Pledges collected by walk participants stay in the area, according
to a news release issued by HIV/AIDS Regional Services (HARS)
of Kingston.
Participants will receive a walker's kit prior to the event.
To register and to receive the kit, call HARS at 1-800-565-2209.
Those who cannot take part in the walk but would still like
to help can send in a donation.
The walk is described as the largest fundraiser for AIDS in
the region.
Become a member of the high school council
PRESCOTT - The South Grenville District High School Community
Advisory Council is seeking additional members for the upcoming
academic year.
Parents and community members are being invited to take part
in what is hoped will be another active and productive year for
the high school council.
The first council meeting is scheduled to take place Tuesday,
Sept. 24 at 7 pm in the high school library; the public is invited
to attend.
For more information, contact Judy Roberts at 925-5152 or
the SGDHS office at 925-2855.
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