W. Gibb

“We are absolutely amazed and thrilled with the support we received,” said Jean MacDougal, secretary of the South Dundas Snowmobile Club. “We were hoping to make at least $5,000 this year. Instead, our tally currently stands at $6,261.81, and we still have money coming in.”

“I think we’ll probably end up with $6,500,” said Margaret Reynolds, chair of fund raising, Dundas County District of Easter Seals, Ontario. “We had a steady stream of people coming out for breakfast. It was wonderful.”

Both organizers felt that this was one of the largest turn outs for a fund raiser since Girls on Snow originated the Snowarama in 2003. (Previously, the Chesterville Rotary Club had organized Easter Seals events.)

Four area snow mobile clubs, Winchester Snowmobile, the Mountain Trailblazers, Finch Snowmobile and the South Dundas club came on board.

This year, for the first time, male riders were invited to take part in the Snowarama. “I think it’s made a real difference in our numbers to have the men join us,” said Lucille Beriault of the South Dundas club.

“Unfortunately, the trails weren’t all that good this year, very slippery and bare in open patches, so we left completing the full run up to the discretion of the riders,” MacDougal explained. However, a number of snowmobilers, including MacDougal, did make at least part of the run.

One factor which made this year’s Snowarama especially poignant for the riders taking part was a new award named in honour of the late Debbie Strader.

“This 2010 run is being done in her honour,” MacDougal said. “She was a member of our South Dundas Club, and also took part at the Association Level and District Level of the Ontario Association of Snowmobile Clubs. Debbie was a great volunteer, a person with a cheerful, positive attitude. We all still miss her terribly.”

MORRISBURG – When a performer must return to the stage for not one but two encores following a standing ovation, it’s apparent that his audience has been overwhelmed.

At his January 30 evening performance at the Morrisburg Meeting Centre guitarist/singer/composer Jason Fowler was an clearly an unqualified hit. 

MORRISBURG – The Amazing Grannies of Morrisburg were at it again,  Friday, January 22, cooking up some delicious pots of “hope” for grandmothers in Africa. 

MORRISBURG – One person,  even one as young as 13, can make a difference in the face of overwhelming disaster.

The students of St. Mary/St. Cecilia’s, the teachers, and parents and families rallied behind Christyn Veinotte, 13, when she proposed a unique and thoughtful way to help the victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti. In less than one day, her school brought in 255 pairs of gently used shoes, all of which were shipped to Haitian survivors on Friday, January 22. 

MORRISBURG – Third generation beekeeper Joanne Lauterbach, of Levac Apiaries, explains her view of the situation this way.

“Let’s say that a beef farmer in eastern Ontario wakes up and gets out of bed one early spring morning only to discover that every one of his cattle is lying dead in his barns and fields. Furthermore, the farmers around him report that all of their cattle are also dead. With only very rare exceptions, this same scene is then repeated throughout the province.”

“And there is no explanation whatsoever for the cattle deaths. Just a lot of theories.”

“Well, that type of scenario is exactly what’s happening in the Canadian bee and honey industry. Beekeepers have been opening their hives in the spring to find all of their bees dead. The scale may be smaller with bees than it would be with say, cattle, but the damage to our businesses and livelihoods is just as great. And we do not have a lot of answers either, just questions.”

IROQUOIS – “What we wanted to do was to give to other people. We have so much and it’s hard to think that others in our community don’t have much. It was a chance to help out people locally,” said Seaway District High School student Breanna Blacquiere. “We do have a global program, but this was helping close to home.”

IROQUOIS – He’s made a list and checked it twice, and he’s decided there are lots of good boys and girls in Iroquois.

Yes, Santa Claus himself will be dropping into the Iroquois Shopping Plaza on Saturday, December 19, from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.

MORRISBURG – Family members, friends and local dignitaries were all on hand to welcome new business owners Michael and Trena Grant to the South Dundas community on Tuesday, November 24. The Grants have just opened the Blues Bakery and Cafe, next door to Curves at the far eastern end of the Morrisburg Shopping Plaza.

“I’ve already been in to sample your wares,” said South Dundas mayor Robert “Rowdy” Gillard, as part of his welcome address. “They were great. We’re very glad that you have decided to come to South Dundas.”