This coming Saturday, May 13th, why not take the family out for dinner? There’s no need to go far afield, because the Kenyon Presbyterian Church Women’s Association is holding their annual Ham Supper in Dunvegan from 4:30 to 7:00 PM. Drop by the church hall and enjoy a hearty church meal of ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetables, baked beans, jelly salads, homemade rolls, assorted desserts, tea and coffee. It’s a great way to get out of doing the dishes AND support a worthy cause at the same time.
The Kenyon Women’s Association plays a very important role in the upkeep of our local church, as well as related outreach and community activities. This event is one of their key fundraisers.
Regardless of whether you attend services in Dunvegan or not, everyone is welcome at this community-wide event. The cost is $15 for adults and $6 for young ones aged six to twelve. Children five and under are free. And, if you have a friend or relative who can’t leave home, take-out meals are available.
They “heart” Dunvegan
The Dunvegan Recreation Association’s Playground Committee received very good news recently. They were awarded an $8,000 “iHeart Community” grant from the Heartland Mutual Insurance Company to help with upgrades to the DRA’s playground at the corner of Church and Murray Streets.
Last May, the Township’s Playground Inspector (I’m not allowed to make this stuff up) recommended major renovations to Dunvegan’s little park to bring it up to Code. While the Township will contribute some of the funds, the DRA must contribute its fair share… and this grant will go a long way towards fulfilling their commitment.
For those of you who have never heard of Heartland, they are one of the community-minded firms represented by McDonell-Levert Insurance in Alexandria. Rory Levert approached DRA president, Ben Williams, to see if the Association had a project that might qualify. Rory even offered to help prepare and submit the application. How’s that for service?
Heartland’s “iHeart Community” initiative is the company’s way of giving back to the communities where their agents and brokers work and live. The DRA’s Playground Upgrades was one of 38 projects chosen out of 93 applicants. Thank you Rory for going to bat for our hamlet.
Once a step dancer…
I’m sorry to say that I didn’t make it to Lori MacMaster’s annual Stepdance Recital last Friday in the Laggan School auditorium, because I was intrigued by her promise of ‘Mystery Guest Dancers.’ Luckily, Lori sent me a report, and it turns out that the special guests were none other than Alyson Graham and Bobbi-Jo MacLeod. Not only did Lori teach this dynamic duo, she also gives lessons to their daughters, Leina Williams and Brenna Villeneuve.
Alyson and Bobbi-Jo were joined on-stage by two other former stepdancers from Dunvegan. The first was Wendy MacLeod (Donnie and Jean’s daughter), who took lessons many moons ago from Lori’s sister, Traci. The second was Allison McIlwain, George and Catherine’s daughter. The McIlwains delivered Dunvegan’s rural mail for many years and were known far and wide for the best sweet corn in the region. Allison, who took lessons way back in 1978, was Lori’s second stepdancing student. “She got up there with the other three,” Lori told me, “and they wowed the crowd. No defibrillator was needed.”
YOUR ideas are needed
This past December the Cornwall & District Family Support Group and the Cornwall Community Hospital submitted a proposal to the Change Foundation. Its aim was to enhance the experience of family caregivers dealing with the region’s Addiction and Mental Health system. And, thankfully, this submission was one of the four chosen from across the province. As a result, The Change Foundation is funding a three-year initiative that will bring together people, resources and ideas.
The primary goals of the project, known as EMBRACE, are to expand the resources available to family caregivers… and have health care providers ‘embrace’ the important role family caregivers play in the recovery of their loved ones from addiction and/or mental illness.
But before they can begin, the project team needs YOUR ideas on how to improve our Addiction & Mental Health system. If you’d like to get involved in this potentially life-changing project, contact them at 613-936-4676 or embrace@cornwallhospital.ca.
Amelia pix appeal
Bonnie Laing is helping Amelia Ayre’s family organize a memorial service for her. Amelia died in B.C., but she lived here, as a weekender and then a full-timer, from the late 1970s to 2006. Her house, which incorporated the old log school building from Skye Road, was truly unique. Old Skye School Farm, as she called it, lay just to the east of René and Sherrill Trottier’s place. (In those days, the first thing city folks did after moving in was to give their property a name.)
As is the practice these days, Bonnie is trying to assemble pictorial collages that document Amelia’s life. One of Amelia’s sons sent Bonnie some great photos of Amelia’s early life. However, she’s looking for more shots of her time in Dunvegan.
Bonnie would like to see Amelia’s friends from this area send her out in style. That’s why she’s asking anyone who knew her to go through their prints and JPGs to see if you have any shots of her that you’d be willing to loan to the cause? Bonnie tells me they will be mounted on foam core, but not permanently affixed. You will get them back.
If you can help with photographic memories… or are willing contribute in other ways (food, wine, etc.)… please give Bonnie a call at 613-678-5307.
As for the memorial service, Bonnie invites you to celebrate the life of Amelia Ayre at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 20th at the Kenyon Presbyterian Church in Dunvegan. The interment of Amelia’s ashes will be followed by a reception in the Dunvegan Recreation Hall, 19053 County Road 24. All are welcome.
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