email: southdundasinbox@gmail.com
Colors of South Dundas, Fall 2024 . . .
Our favourite time of year for getting around and snapping our shutter. There is no other season
like the Fall of the year. Color. Dramatic color! All natural . . . awaiting your turn . . .
Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee . . .
Pig Roast tastes just like success . . .
Barbecuing butchers on hand to carve a wonderfully flavoured roast pig while volunteers provided service
and entertainment for all who attended the annual Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee event . . .
Sunday, Oct. 6 - Members of the Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee staged their annual Pig Roast on Sunday afternoon at Matilda Memorial Park in Brinston for two reasons. Firstly, to continue their fund raising efforts to support projects in their area, and secondly, to offer a sneak peek at the ongoing redevelopment and restoration of their building at Matilda Memorial Park.
As more than 330 ticket holders showed up, the event can only be described as 'tasting just like success!'
The Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee has been diligently working for some years to make use of the building located at the entrance to their park. When the development of the local wind farm provided funds over a number of years specifically designated to community projects the challenge was on.
The local Women’s Institute constructed the original structure in 1936 and the municipality added a small hall in 1967. Over the years the building suffered deterioration, ill-conceived renovations, and stood in a somewhat state of disrepair for some years.
In an effort to retain their park and secure a space for local events such as private parties, family celebrations, fund-raising efforts and a place to stay out of inclement weather, the local recreation committee grabbed the reins, successfully driving what to day is an eye-popping change and a beautiful and modern building, fittingly to serve the community.
“All of the crazy and cramped lay-out has been removed,” correctly pointed out Shellie Spencer, the Committee Treasurer and Main Building Project Lead.
“We have three new bathrooms, a new heating and air conditioning system, new insulation, wiring, windows, interior walls and finishing, and a new and modern kitchen for larger parties and gatherings.” Spencer added.
Over the years the building had served as a “catch all”, a space for the Women’s Institute, a library, the township office and storage space. And unfortunately, a seemingly left to rot structure no group could make use of.
“We’re now into the final phases,” the Project Lead pointed out, “And events like the pig roast we are celebrating today will raise funds to help go toward meeting the costs of finalizing what has been a dream project for many of us!”
More than 330 people turned up for the Pig Roast. The event is the Matilda Memorial Recreation Committee’s main fund raiser each year with monies raised being spread over a number of costs in the community. Anyone seeking to help finalize the finishing touches to the Park’s Recreation Hall need simply email ‘spots4u@xplornet.com'.
Bounce Nepean Wildcats on 9-1 score . . .
U11-A Typhoons ice potent scoring squad . . .
Cornwall Typhoons Callie Patton works to beat the Nepean Wildcats netminder in a game iced at
Morrisburg Arena on Sunday morning. The Typhoons whipped the Wildcats on a 9-1 score . . .
Sunday, October. 6th - The U11A Cornwall Typhoons iced an exhibition game at Morrisburg Arena on Sunday morning, hosting the Nepean Wildcats in the 1st meeting between the two entries this season. The Typhoons, under Coach Mike Dixon overpowered their guests on a 9-1 count over the tree periods. Also from South Dundas are Cami Dixon (forward) and Ellie MacPherson (defence) dressing for the Typhoons.
The fast skating Typhoons opened a 2-0 lead in the 1st-period on goals by Maely McBride and Kaitlyn Terrence before the Wildcats managed their lone goal of the game. Ellie MacPherson set up McBride for the opening counter and Abby Esdale provided the support for Terrence’s marker. Saige Douglas cut the Typhoons lead in half when she notched an unassisted marker for the Wildcats midway through the period. Fourteen seconds following the Wildcats goal Cami Dixon wired the first of her two on the day with Savannah Bateman providing the assist.
Cornwall went up 5-1 after two periods with Callie Patton netting the Typhoons fourth counter from Abby Elsdale and Felix Terrence pushed the lead fur goals when she finished a Maely McBride play late in the period.
Third period action was heavy in favour of the Typhoons who ran away with the final count. Felix King, Cami Dixon and Kaitlyn Terrence all notched their second of the game with Leah Lefebrve adding an unassisted goal for the 9-1 victory. Addison Henry, Ainsley McPherson and Abby Esdale with her second provided the assists on the final period scoring.
RUN = $4,000 for cancer research . . .
Saturday, Oct. 6th - A first for Morrisburg went off to great fanfare on Saturday around the community’s Earl Baker Park when Oakley Beaver’s organized 1st Run for the CURE drew a large participating crowd and raised more than $4,000 for Breast Cancer Research.
Well aware of the facts around Canada’s most commonly diagnosed cancer that will add an estimated 2,600 people to it’s numbers this year alone, Beaver’s said to some 150 participants gathered at the starting line that he was inspired to get involved because his own mother, Nancy, had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
“There are four women who we all know on the street surrounding this park that have been diagnosed with breast cancer!” Beavers told the gathering emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and monies for research.
“It’s a testament to the young people of South Dundas when we see them getting involved and gather to take part in events like this,” Mayor Jason Broad said in preparing to cut the ribbon at the starting line.
The very young, the diagnosed survivors, daughters, mothers, dads, brothers and sisters, the Tubie Weekend organizers, the Minor and Junior Lions hockey players past and present, a few Halloween fairies and witches, visiting Firefighters, and their dogs lined up at the starting line. Most wore some form of Cancer Research’s official color, pink. Most sponsored by Tyler Mullin’s Mullin Excavating and Cindy Bennis’ Bayshore companies.
Participants started at the Morrisburg Amphitheatre and walked, ran, roller bladed, pushed little ones in strollers or biked a variety of kilometre challenges, and when all was said and done the event was deemed a wonderful success.
Anyone wishing to be added to the list of supporting organizers for next year’s RUN for the CURE is urged to contact Oakley Beavers @ https://www.facebook.com/events/1060609548907077.
Morrisburg loses to South Grenville and Hull Volant . . .
NCJHL Lions in nagging injury freefall . . . .
Lions flag bearers Tyson Duval & Bridger Baldwin check the opposition at Saturday's game in Morrisburg . . .
Morrisburg - Injuries to key defensive and forward positions saw Morrisburg’s Junior Lions plummet to the bottom end of regular season standings over the weekend. On Saturday evening at home the locals dropped a 4-1 decision to the winless (until that game) South Grenville Rangers. Travelling to Gatineau on Sunday afternoon Morrisburg’s short-handed bench in the National Capital Junior Hockey League were bowled over by the high scoring, free-wheeling, 1st-place Hull Volant in a 7-0 decision.
The losses leave the Lions with a single win and four losses for 9th-place after their opening five games of the 2024-25 regular season. South Grenville moved to 8th-place with four losses and a single win and St-Isidore’s Eagles are in 10th spot with a single win and five losses. The Lions are holding 6th place in the 'goals for' category with 14 markers while the missing defence shows in the team's goals against record, the highest in the 10-team league, at 29 over six games. Morrisburg currently is in 5th-place in the 5-team A Division of the NCJHL standings.
"Against South Grenville we definitely had our chances," admitted Lion's Head Coach Jamie Smith, "If we would’ve capitalized on our chances, we would’ve won. No puck luck!!"
Smith said, "In Gatineau Sunday, we continued to suffer from a short bench," continuing he admitted, "We did what we could considering the circumstances! This team (the Volant) could be comfortable playing in a good Junior B League."
"I give credit to our players," said the Lion's Head Coach, Keeping their cool and not suffering too many penalties this weekend means we are remaining positive! As always, we're looking forward to the coming weekend!!"
Saturday, Oct. 5th - On Saturday evening at Morrisburg Arena the Lions appeared to be holding the edge in possession time through the opening two periods in spite of falling behind on a 2-1 score after 40-minutes. The Ranger's Noah Perry had opened the game scoring from Ben Pilon and Nic Campeau on a power-play with just 26-seconds remaining in the first period, beating the Lion's netminder Nick Lyon on a hard, rising shot.
The Rangers went up 2-1 when Pilon combined with Sam Turcotte and Gabriel Couture for South Grenville's go-ahead counter. Late in the same period the Lion’s Ben Lapier snapped a quick shot past Rangers netminder Carter Overhoff to cut the visitors lead to a single counter.
Play went steadily back and forth through the opening eight minutes of the final stanza when the visitors crashed the Lions goal mouth for a pair of goals in less than a minute. Noah Penny beat Lyons for his second of the night and Gabriel Couture added his second point of the game. Nic Compeau and Matteo Dixon picked up single points on the two markers.
The Lions showed grit through the final 20 minute period, attacking the Rangers net relentlessly. However the star play of Overhoff between the South Grenville pipes remained true until Shamus Mcdonald added Morrisburg’s second goal with five minutes remaining.
Sunday, October. 6th - In spite of holding a considerable 13-4 lead in penalties called at Gatineau on Sunday afternoon the Morrisburg Lion's penalty kill and Carson Turner’s net minding managed to hold the league leading Volant snipers scoreless on their numerous power play opportunities. The Volant however did score seven even-strength goals, three in each of the first and second periods and a single in the closing frame.
League scoring leader Julien Arruda added a single counter and one assist to round out his nine goals and 13 points totals after five games. Singles went to Charly Déry, Zachary Matte, Frédéric Faucher, Anthony Silva-Tassé, Nathan Dagenais and Mathis Villeneuve.
On Saturday, Oct. 12th the 4th-place Metcalfe Jets visit the Lion’s den in Morrisburg for the first round of action between these two teams this season in a 7:15 p.m. start. The Lions then travel to St-Isidore to face the Eagles in a 7:30 p.m. game.
Mariposa's annual barbecue, duck confit . . .
Saturday, Oct. 5th - We made time to tour east to Mariposa Farm in Plantagenet on Saturday afternoon to take in their annual On Fire! event featuring a full course meal cooked on the open fire. Hundreds of happy faces and a selection of vendors sprinkled around the property with hungry patrons lining up to sample the duck confit and the open fire roasted pork chops, selections of fresh picked produce, foie gras, ancient breads with a wonderful selection of Quebec cheeses, and small brewery refreshments to quench one's thirst. Our highlight on the plate was a tartiflette, a potato dish prepared with a selection of cheeses and cream that is straight out sinful!!
Desserts followed, all consumed amid live music performances and entertainment. And the farm store was open! We packed a number of duck leg & thigh pieces, several aces of Mariposa's pork chops, and a number of treats for friends.
Anyone looking for something a little different, prepared 'on the farm', can sign up for Farm Mariposa's weekly shopping list at www.mariposa-duck.on.ca.
Live concert Memphis to Motown hits Playhouse stage . . .
May explode with magic live music . . .
Memphis to Motown - Thursday, Oct. 17th - Sunday, Oct. 27th
Shows 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
613-543-3713/877-550-3650
Morrisburg’s Upper Canada Playhouse will explode with the magic of live music when the blockbuster concert Memphis to Motown takes to the stage Thursday, Oct. 17th thru Sunday, Oct. 27th with one of the largest group of musicians The Playhouse has assembled in recent memory. From the producers of recent Playhouse concerts Glory Days, Summer of Love, Johnny and June and Blue Suede Shoes, Memphis to Motown features the music of those legendary artists whose music exploded on the charts when Motown made them instant hits that have stood the test of time and remain on everyone’s play list even to this day.
The concert features music from The Supremes, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and more. It’s a cavalcade of hits like Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay, Dancing in the Street, Midnight Train to Georgia, My Girl, You Can’t Hurry Love, I Heard It Through the Grapevine to name a few - all performed by fabulous singers backed by a dynamite live band. ‘Treating our audience to some of the finest musicians in the country is something we’re very proud of,’ remarks Artistic Director Donnie Bowes. ‘The level of talent, range and experience these artists bring to our stage is incredible. That’s what makes our concerts so popular and a fitting complement to our regular theatre season.’
On saxophone is Gord Aichele who has performed with such artists as Paul Shaffer, The Guess Who, Anne Murray and Dan Aykroyd. On trumpet is Andy Gravitis who has also worked with a star-studded roster of artists including Wayne Newton, Dick Clark and Chubby Checker. Bass player Lew Mele has extensive experience playing for musical theatre productions and has also worked with such stars as Roger Whittaker and Frankie Avalon. He also performed at Sean Connery’s 80th birthday party! Joining them on vocals is Toronto performer and vocal teacher Justin Bacchus. The Playhouse also welcomes back from recent hit concerts Glory Days and Summer of Love drummer Kevin Dempsey, guitarist Peter Mueller, vocalist and keyboardist Stephen Ingram and vocalist Imogen Wasse.
Creator of Memphis to Motown is producer and stage director Chris McHarge, whose popular concerts have inspired and entertained audiences all over the world including Morrisburg’s Upper Canada Playhouse where several of them were created for The Playhouse and had their first performances on their stage. He also directed this season’s hit comedy Leaving Marjorie Bliss.
Jaymie Thurler Henderson: charm and the business acumen . . .
Rutabaga Ranch has the ingredients . . .
Preparing for the weekly markets both at home and in Ottawa Jaymie Thurler Henderson
hefts one of the baskets into the delivery van. Left are Wilder Henderson,
Grandma Debbie Elliott Thurler and team member Kristen Barclay
Friday, Oct. 4th - Over the years we’ve posted notes and photos on this page commenting on or promoting interesting food plates and recipes. More particularly, the food one would enjoy prepared and served at our own table.
It’s never been a secret we do not hesitate to shop at favourite haunts, near and far to gather unusual and or the freshest ingredients available in an effort to create the most authentic flavors possible. And there are times, as we all have experienced living rurally, that the effort to find ingredients at home can be near impossible.
Some months ago we had posted a story with an agricultural twist, more to do with the subject of dairy production than edible meat or vegetable products. A day or two later we picked up a ringing telephone to be informed, “If it’s fresh vegetables you want visit Rutabaga Ranch in Brinston!”
Answering that we were not aware of Rutabaga Ranch we asked for directions, and as is the custom in South Dundas we were told, “Just head up to Brinston and take a left. There’s signs all over the place! You can’t miss it!”
Sounded like welcoming news to us. Thursday morning we turned north off Highway #2 just east of Iroquois, heading straight to Brinston. Obviously an impossible to miss destination, we were on the Brinston Road!
At Brinston we turned left, heading west. And soon noted the absence of “signs all over the place!”
Turning around we made our way back to Brinston, dropped into the H&I Country Supply, asked directions to Rutabaga Ranch and were warmly greeted with “You not from around here eh?”
The young lady at the counter told us to “Keep going north on Brinston Road, about a half mile and turn left on Kirker Road. The signs are along the road. You can’t miss it! ”
Driving north we passed over a bit of a rise in the road, accommodating a drainage ditch, and spotted a sign on the right, six to eight-feet up on the utility pole. This sign, unlike official roadway signs, was painted robin’s egg blue. Over the blue was a similarly painted bright orange carrot with its tip pointing west, so we made the left turn.
There are times it takes a minute for one time rural, citified people to get themselves re-accustomed to country directions.
About a mile up the single lane roadway is a retired microwave oven resting on a post. The oven is painted in somewhat faded, somewhat psychedelic colours in stacked waves. The address and “Rutabaga Ranch” are blazed across the door-front of the micro-wave, facing the road. So we turned in.
Nope! “Not the entrance!” We were told, “Go down to the next turn-off. That’s the entrance.”
Twenty yards down the road, a faded black pedestal flower pot adorned with hundreds of tiny multicoloured blooms stands beside a 1940’s-50’s style, hardwood, brilliantly painted, bright yellow kitchen chair. Hanging over the back of the chair is a three foot by 18-inch sign adorned with a single word. “Hello!”
We’ve been hooked on Rutabaga Ranch produce ever since!
Rutabaga Ranch, we’ve learned over this season, is a family affair. Jaymie Thurler Henderson tops the hierarchy in this operation. At least vocally. A second rung on the Executive level appears. to be held by Jaymie’s husband Rob Henderson or Jaymie’s Mom, Debbie Elliott Thurler. It just depends on who is in residence at the time the question is tossed out there. All who’s who arguments aside, each of this trio is easily as comfortable, as friendly and informative as any South Dundas farm folk could possibly be. And as we've been made aware many times over, that’s friendly and then some!!
More Rutabaga Ranch here . . .
US Ambassador to Canada headlines Oct. 16th Canadian Club . . .
David Cohen is guest speaker here . . .
US Ambassador David Cohen . . . Tuesday, Sept. 24th - US Ambassador to Canada, David Cohen, is the scheduled speaker at the upcoming Morrisburg and District Canadian Club, Wednesday, Oct. 16th dinner meeting scheduled for the Royal Canadian Legion in Morrisburg. Prior to his appointment by President Biden and unanimous confirmation by the U.S. Senate as U.S. Ambassador to Canada, David L. Cohen served as Senior Advisor to the CEO at Comcast Corporation as of January 1, 2020.
David Cohen was previously Senior Executive Vice President at Comcast, where his portfolio included corporate communications, legal affairs, government and regulatory affairs, public affairs, corporate administration, corporate real estate and security, and community impact. Cohen also served as the company’s first chief diversity officer.
Before starting with Comcast in July 2002, Cohen served as a partner in and Chairman of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP, one of the 100 largest law firms in the country. From January 1992 to April 1997, Cohen served as Chief of Staff to the Honorable Edward G. Rendell, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
Ambassador Cohen has served on many nonprofit boards, including as chair of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and its Executive Committee; as a member of the trustee board and the executive committee of Penn Medicine; as a member of the board of directors and the executive committee of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; as chair of the Philadelphia Theatre Company; as a member of the Board of the National Urban League; and as chair of the corporate board of advisors of UnidosUS. He also previously served as a member of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, and on the board of directors of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and PNC Bank, National Association.
A native of New York, Cohen graduated with a B.A. from Swarthmore College in 1977 and with a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School summa cum laude in 1981. Cohen has received numerous honors and recognitions, including Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. Prior to his appointment to Ottawa, he lived in Philadelphia with his wife.
Canadian Club Dinner, Wednesday, Oct. 16th, 7:00 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion, 10 Legion Street, Morrisburg, ON
$45 per person - tickets and info: Clara @ 613-447-8167
Please Reserve no later than Sunday, Oct. 6th, 2024
