Ian and Michelle Hartrick were the recipients of some good news last week. The couple learned that a room at the Maxville Manor had become available for Ian’s mother: Annabelle Hartrick. As you may recall, I stopped by the Community Nursing Home in Alexandria in February to visit with Mrs. Hartrick. And while I found her in good spirits, I could see that moving from her heritage farmhouse north of Dunvegan to a small double-occupancy room in town was taking its toll.
Ian and Michelle have nothing but good things to say about the nurses and other staff at the Alexandria nursing home. They praise the professionalism and compassion the care team there showed Mrs. Hartrick during her stay. Nevertheless, the Hartricks were glad when the Maxville Manor called and they wasted no time in transferring her to her new home. In Maxville, Mrs. Hartrick is not only closer to family and friends; she also has her own private accommodations. So, for those who had a visit planned to see Mrs. Hartrick, please take note of her new address.
Ferry to St. Mungo’s
Organizers of the Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s 12thannual Historical Driving Tour on Saturday, June 15thhave a bit of an unusual twist in store this year: a ferry ride across the Ottawa River. The goal of this border hop into Le belle paysis a visit to St. Mungo’s United Church in Cushing. While I can find very little of the church’s history on-line, I suspect it started out life as a Presbyterian house of worship. If the many photos can be believed, it is a truly impressive structure. Built in 1836, it was constructed by stonemasons who obviously knew what they were doing. While no longer in regular use, in 2012, members celebrated the Highlands part of their heritage with a Scottish Memorial Day. They also continue to hold four services a year… in the spring, summer, fall and a very popular bilingual Christmas Eve service.
Lindsey Howes and Stuart Robertson organized this year’s daylong tour of historical hotspots. For those readers who have never participated, this is NOT a bus-based excursion. Participants use their own vehicles and travel in convoy. The group will assemble in Dalkeith and head north to St. Eugene to the site of a WWII airfield. The motorcade will then wend its way to the Macdonell-Williamson House and the Carrion Dam. From there you will take the ferry across to St. Mungo’s and the tour’s final stop at Le Chenail in Hawkesbury.
The cost is $35 for museum members, $40 non-members. This price includes a picnic lunch and snacks. The press release I received also promises “entertainment,“ but fails to specify what type. Perhaps Lindsey will be giving a step-dancing demonstration or Celine Dionne impression. If you’d like to be a part of this magical mystery tour, you must get you name on the list by June 10th.To reserve a spot, call 613-527-5230 or e-mail: info@glengarrypioneermuseum.ca. Space is limited, so book soon… it’s already half full!
Please lend a hand
If you need a few more volunteer hours — to graduate from an educational institution or get into heaven — the Glengarry Pioneer Museum isin need of people to help at the Smith-In weekend (June 15thand 16th). If you have a few hours to spare helping with set-up, takedown or at one of the entrance tables, please contact the museum at 613-527-5230.
Curator Jennifer Black is also looking for extra help maintaining the museum’s gardens. She needs one more gardener a couple times in June, another individual for July and two volunteers for August. As many hands make light work, Jennifer says she can coordinate the “weeding bees” so folks can work together.
Beer drinkers rejoice
I’m pleased to report that Dunvegan’s museum gift shop has added an oft-requested item — ceramic beer steins — just in time for IPA season. The hefty, 20-fluid ounce flagons are cream coloured and proudly imprinted with the toast “Slainte,” which I was assured means “cheers” in Scottish Gaelic. The curio shop has also restocked its supply of Gildan-brand heavy cotton T-Shirts and dryblend jersey Sport Shirts… both in a handsome shade of forest green.
Piper porn
If I were an audiologist, one mailing list I’d like to get my hands on is of the Scottish music enthusiasts who attended the Ottawa Branch PPBSO’s 2019 Indoor Highland Games in Kemptville on May 4th. For the uninitiated, PPBSO stands for Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario. If there were ever a cohort destined for possible hearing issues, this would be the one.
The reason this item appears in the Dunvegan column is that one of our native sons, Sean Burgess, competed in the season opener in Kemptville that saw 100 solo competitors battle it out in 32 events, followed by 13 quartet and band performances. It was Sean’s first time playing the pipes competitively and he aced the award for Grade 2 Piper of the Day with a clean sweep of all three categories: March; Strathspey/Reel; and Jig. Not too shabby for man who hasn’t touched the pipes for 15 years. I include the following slice of ‘piper porn’ for those in the know: Sean’s winning performances were played on his new Dave Atherton “MD” MacDougall reproduction 2012 pipes crafted from blackwood with full holly-mounted, engraved silver slides. Congratulations Sean.
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