While Velma Franklin is no longer with us, her daughter Eileen continues to support one of her mother’s favourite charities: The Farley Foundation. This charitable organization helps low-income pet owners with the cost of non-elective veterinary care for their sick or injured pets. For the past 15 years, countless GIS seniors, persons on ODSP or CPP Disability, Ontario Works recipients and pets owned by seniors’ care facilities have benefited from this unique organization. The Foundation also participates in the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association’s SafePet Program. It provides temporary shelter and veterinary care for pets owned by women entering registered women’s shelters in Ontario.
Eileen Franklin alerted me that October is Fundraise for Farley month. She works part time at the Maxville Veterinary Clinic and asked me to help spread the word that they’re hosting a slew of events over the next few weeks to raise money for the Farley Foundation.
First of all, they’ve organized a Silent Auction. From now until the auction closes on November 10th, you’re invited to drop by the clinic, browse the “auction” display and, if you wish, make a bid. You can also view the offerings up for bid on the clinic’s Facebook page.
On top of this, there will be a Garage Sale in the clinic’s parking lot on October 27th and 28th… a “Paint Night” on November 10th (call 613-527-1444 for details)… you can have your pet’s nails trimmed for $10… or you can make a cash donation of $2, $5 or $10 dollars and have a ‘paw print’ displayed with your pet’s name on it.
All proceeds will go to the Farley Foundation. So please come out and help them raise money for this worthwhile cause.
Nope, not a lawn ornament
Last Friday, Jim Tilker asked if anyone else had reported seeing his “piebald” Bambi and was a mite crestfallen when I said no. Well, take heart Jim. You’re not alone. I just received word from Bruno Carrière of Alexandria that he and his wife spotted the unique white doe on Saturday evening while returning from a cribbage tournament in Curran.
Bruno’s first reaction was that it was a lawn ornament. However, when he looked in his rear view mirror, the “ornament” turned around and headed south across the field. Bruno confirms that the doe is white with brown patches and was sorry he didn’t stop so they could have gotten a better view. “I feel like going back, pitching a tent and trying to get a picture of it,” says Mr. Carrière.
For those purists out there, Bruno does have a connection to Dunvegan. Not only is he René Trottier’s cousin, but he’s also a nearby neighbour of former Dunveganites Donnie and Jean McLeod. Bruno hopes that Piebald Bambi does not fall prey to hunters this fall. “Hunters should be encouraged to take their cameras with them and get a photo, not a trophy,” says Bruno. And I agree.
Where once a sawmill stood
Last Friday’s wake in Maxville for young David Viau was a bittersweet occasion. Over the course of just fourteen days, David’s parents, Evelyn and Barry, had travelled from the high of celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary to the dark depths of despair where no parent should ever have to go. Nevertheless, it was good to share a few minutes of warmth with them. It was also a joy to reconnect with David’s siblings. His sister, Sarah, is now a lawyer in Kingston, with a loving husband and a fine little son named Kolh (pronounced “Cole”; I was told the H is silent). I also spoke with David’s older brother, Chris, who l hadn’t seen for many a year. Chris lives and works in Ottawa and is father to Barry and Evelyn’s precious granddaughter, Emily.
Barry and Evelyn moved to the hamlet of Dunvegan in 1974. They were living in Ottawa at the time and had been following the Rev. John A. MacKechnie affair in the Ottawa press. So, when they were looking through the listings for rural properties, a house for sale in “Dunvegan” naturally caught their eye. The house they fell in love with belonged, at the time, to Cyrus and Louise Walker. Cy and Louise had bought it for their son who was living in Vermont. At the last minute, the late Jim Walker (a talented potter) decided not to emigrate and the Walkers put the house on the market. Barry fondly quipped that buying the house from a gentle Quaker couple like Cy and Louise made the whole thing almost pleasurable.
I’m not sure from whom Cy and Louise had acquired the white and green clapboard structure. However, my understanding is that in 1919 or 1920, Wallie MacKinnon owned the property and opened a sawmill that he acquired from W.A. MacEwen of Maxville. Mr. MacEwen had, in turn, purchased the mill from Dan MacKercher of Moose Creek. In 1942, MacKinnon sold the equipment to D.A. Gray, who subsequently resold it to a firm from Quebec. Whether Cy and Louise bought the house from Mr. Gray or a later owner, I’m not sure.
I do know that the Viau family has called the three-storey dwelling home for 43 years… and that a part of the ground floor served as Dunvegan’s post office for many years. However, what the future holds for the Viaus, or the house, is uncertain. As Barry’s health worsened, David took over much of the responsibility for his parent’s care. He will be sorely missed.
Help grow Candy Mountain
The soul of a community is its traditions. And one that Dunvegan has observed for over 30 years is the Dunvegan Recreation Association’s Community Halloween Party. Year in and year out, children from the surrounding district (and now their children) have gathered at the DRA Hall on All Hallows’ Eve for food, fun and fright.
Part of the evening’s success depends on the community’s generosity. The candy the DRA collects in the weeks leading up to October 31st is used to make loot bags for the kids who take part in the fun.
If you’d like to help out, Mona Jerome has once again volunteered her front porch as the drop-off spot for the DRA Halloween Party candy donations. Mona lives in Yvon Leblanc’s former home and barbershop on the northeast corner of the Dunvegan crossroads. Her civic number is 19083 County Road 24. If you have sweets that you’d like to contribute, just leave them on Mona’s front porch. A note to those with larcenous intent: the front of Mona’s home will be under CCTV surveillance 24/7.
Enjoy a bowl of Euchre
This month’s Euchre Luncheon on Friday, October 20th, will see the return of our “Soup & Sandwich” format, which includes piping hot soup, scrumptious sandwiches and homemade sweets by Sandra Daigle. Admission is only $5 and a 50/50 draw is part of the fun. Held in the DRA Hall at 19053 County Road 24, the luncheon/euchre tournament starts at 12:00 noon and wraps up around 3:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Down Mexico way
While we couldn’t make it to the vernissage, Terry and I did make a point of dropping by the SD&G Library in Alexandria last Saturday to see the exhibition of Brenda Kennedy’s most recent paintings
In her e-mail invitation, Brenda had mentioned that the new works were based on her trip to Mexico this past winter. And the truth of this could be seen on each and every canvas. Be it the eye-squinting Latin light on whitewashed adobe walls or the joyful colours of the southern palette, Brenda faithfully reflected the Mexican experience. A number of her works even had a folk art whimsy, in that they incorporated 3-D objects that would have been completely at home in the market square of a pueblo mexicano. The exhibition will be at the Alexandria Library throughout the month of October. So make a point of stopping by.
PS: The librarians in Alexandria are to be congratulated for hosting these community art shows. It’s a great way to showcase the talent we have in our region.
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