If you left purchasing your ticket to this year’s “Music & Mayhem” show to the last minute, you may be out of luck. The show’s creative director, Rosemary Chatterson, tells me that the December 1st, 8th and 10th performances are almost completely sold out. There are a few spaces left, but it’s getting real tight. At this point, Wednesday, December 6th might be your best bet. There are still several seats available for that show. To find out more, contact Caisse Populaire Desjardins in Alexandria, Home Hardware in Maxville, The Quirky Carrot in Alexandria, The Review in Vankleek Hill or Rosemary at 613-525-1336.
Generously sponsored by the Caisse Populaire Desjardins, the goal of this Christmas-themed music and comedy is to raise money for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Experience has shown that greenbacks are what the SVP volunteers really need to fill the hundreds of Christmas hampers they distribute each year.
In each of the past two “Music & Mayhem” comedy revues, some segments have stood out as audience favourites. Who can forget the “Guys in Hula Skirts” and “Suzy Snowflake” numbers from the first season… or the “Bra Department” and “Cookies for the Funeral” skits from the second? And this year will be no exception. Having seen the mirth that’s in store for concertgoers this December, I have a pretty good idea which acts will make the 2017 hit list. We’ll see if the clap-o-meter agrees when the curtain goes up on the first performance this Friday evening at 7:30 PM.
By the way, the “clap-o-meter” is a real thing. A popular feature of talent shows and television game shows in the 1950s and 1960s, the clap-o-meter purported to measure and display the volume of an audience’s applause as an indication of popularity. Over the years, this crude device was replaced by far more sophisticated techniques to measure audience responses. Of late though, the clap-o-meter is making a bit of a comeback. It is now available as an app for smart phones and tablets.
Shop here. Help the DRA
In the city, “One-of-a-Kind” shows have become all the rage with folks looking for truly distinctive Christmas gifts. However, there’s no need to head to the Big Smoke to be trendy. This coming Saturday and Sunday, the “Dunvegan Historical Crafter’s Fair & Christmas Marketplace” offers you unique, pioneer-inspired gifts… and it is a whole lot closer to home.
This refreshingly atypical craft fair was started five years ago as a fundraiser in support of the Dunvegan Recreation Association and the contribution their volunteers make to the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. “It’s our way of giving back,” says Jim Mullin, “for the DRA’s contributions to museum events such as the War of 1812 Re-enactment.” Jim and his wife Shelly are co-owners of The Chocolate Box, and are organizing this unique craft event again this year.
As in the past, vendors are chosen who offer historically inspired goods that showcase the trades of early Ontario settlers. Artist, Jillian Metcalfe, will be returning with her silhouette portrait studio. Fresh Christmas wreaths and other natural greenery will also be available. As well, the Fair will feature handcrafted candles, maple syrup, honey, leather goods, recycled silver jewellery, hand-forged iron goods, primitive candlesticks and wooden ornaments.
The Historical Crafters Fair is open this Saturday, December 2nd from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday, December 3rd from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There is no admission fee, but donations to the Dunvegan Recreation Association’s Children’s Park Fund would be greatly appreciated. The DRA Hall is located at 19053 County Road 24, just west of the Dunvegan crossroads.
Eileen Follow-up
Last week, I mentioned the DRA Euchre gang was sad that Eileen MacGillivray, a long-time player, hadn’t attended the past few tournaments. Thanks to Rev. Julia Apps Douglas of the Kenyon Presbyterian Church in Dunvegan (and the St. Columba Presbyterian Church in Kirk Hill), I now know why. Apparently, because of health reasons, Eileen has moved to the Heritage Nursing Home in Vankleek Hill. I’ll now contact her to see if she’s up to bringing a group down from VKH and going head-to-head with the players who come from The Palace.
Irreplaceable history: Part II
As Royce MacGillivray pointed out in my previous column, far too much historical correspondence has been lost over the years to the practice of destroying the letters after they’ve been read. And it’s not just letters. Throughout Glengarry, precious documents like business records and fraternal organization minutes languish in unsafe storage situations. Places where nesting mice or a springtime flood could destroy them in the blink of an eye.
However, it’s not just documents and artifacts that are at risk. Glengarry’s inventory of historic structures is also slowly being eroded. On the one hand, our chambers of commerce and countless government committees have concluded that one route to growth and prosperity is tourism. And yet little or no action is taken to preserve the historic structures that… in the absence of more modern attractions such as outlet malls, ski hills and theme parks… are such a draw for the travelling public. Merrickville, Vankleek Hill and Kingston have all turned their picturesque historical buildings into engines of commerce.
I fear it’s too late for Alexandria. While a few gems of Victorian architecture remain on some residential streets, any historical infrastructure of a commercial nature has been demolished or remuddled beyond the point of redemption.
And is Maxville all that far behind? Just recently, a quaint little brick building that had served as a barbershop for Yvon Leblanc and Lou Filion before him was crushed by a high-hoe’s claw. Yes, I know it had to go to make room for a new and improved commercial structure. However, its diminutive size meant that it might have been easily moved a few hundred feet to the King George Park and continued to serve the needs of the community in a brand new role. It’s time that our municipal politicians and planners starting thinking of the future by helping to preserve the past.
-30-