I called around and it looks like many, if not all, households in Dunvegan received a notice from the Township of North Glengarry offering homeowners ‘water and sewer/spetic line’ insurance through Service Line Warranties Canada (SLWC). My first reaction was that the offer was a bit odiferous. However, an article in last week’s Glengarry News and a bit of online research suggested that such was not necessarily the case. Nevertheless, my ‘skeptometer’ was still registering in the pinkish zone.
My first question was whether water and sewer/septic line insurance was a worthwhile investment or a bad deal? In cities where the potable water and wastewater infrastructure dates back a hundred or two hundred years and the pipes servicing a property are clay or even wood, service line insurance could provide real peace of mind. However, in rural towns and hinterlands where service lines were installed much more recently (or, in the case of Maxville, yesterday or even tomorrow)… the risks are arguably far fewer. Chances are the lines were buried according to code and are made of metal or plastic. However, as the Township’s letter suggests… this coverage is optional. Only you can decide if the plan meets your needs and if you’re comfortable with having to use SLWC’s approved contractors. Alternatively, it might be worth exploring a ‘self-insurance fund’ with a group of like-minded friends and neighbours.
My second question pertained to the mailing list used for this direct marketing campaign. As this is a joint, for-profit venture between the Township and SLWC, I might have expected North Glengarry would have made their list of homeowners available. However, an anomaly in the address on the envelope we received suggests that this was not the case. Of course, SLWC could have obtained our snail-mail address from the Glengarry Telephone Directory, but this list source would have provided relatively slim pickings as most of the addresses in the Directory are missing, incomplete or are based on a rural route number, which is no longer acceptable by Canada Post’s standards. This leaves the Township municipal Voters List as another possible source of names and addresses. If this was indeed the case, has a line been crossed?
Numbers in your blood?
Are you a recently retired or semiretired businessperson with a love of numbers (and a familiarity with basic accounting procedures) who misses being a part of a meaningful endeavour? If so, you should consider putting your organizational powers and years of experience back to work as the treasurer of the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. While the salary is nil — it’s a volunteer gig — the rewards are many. The sound fiscal management you provide will serve as the foundation of the GPM’s success: today and in the future.
After four years in the role, Marlie Tilker of Dunvegan East is stepping down as treasurer at the end of 2019 and taking a well-deserved rest. Her steady hand will be sorely missed. However, she has volunteered to provide her replacement with assistance and advice for as long as it’s wanted. As Marlie describes it, the role of GPM Treasurer includes keeping the books on all payables and receivables, as well as producing reports for the Board of Directors. “An easy-to-use accounting system is in place to help simplify the process,” Marlie told me. If you’d like to know more about the role or are raring to go right away, please contact Matt Williams, the Chair of the museum’s Executive Committee, at 613-527-5230.
His nona’s recipe
Saturday night’s Spaghetti Fundraiser in Dunvegan for the Maxville Firefighters Association was a resounding success. In all, around 150 diners showed up and the Association netted over $1,000… between meals served, liquid refreshments poured and raffle tickets sold. As I mentioned last week, four spaghetti sauces were on offer: Québecoise, Bolognese, Calabrese and Tomato. Jay Wilkie told me the Bolognese option was based on his nona’s original recipe. “Nona” or “nonna” is Italian for grandmother. However, Jay stressed that Norm Jeaurond really deserves all the credit for the delicious sauces. “He wouldn’t let anyone near the pots,” Jay said. “He stood over them for a total of 15 hours.”
Terry and I ended up dining later than expected, but there was still plenty of food. Plus we had the pleasure of watching while Cole, Dawson and Oakley Williams followed each other on stage, fiddles in hand, to play for their supper. I forgot to mention it last week, but the Firefighters had announced that the meal was free for anyone who stepped on stage to perform. The only sour note was that one member of the audience thought it was acceptable to answer their phone in the middle of one of the performances. Not cool, as we Boomers used to say.
Our status as late diners also afforded us the opportunity of witnessing the winning raffle ticket draws. Ingrid Bill won the Rooster Cup collection. Bernice Wissell won the Lantern. Peggi Calder won the Dip Chiller. Laurie Arkinstall was winner #4, but I’m ashamed to say I neglected to record her prize. In my defence, the firefighters were drawing tickets… like they were rushing to a fire. Sylvie McDonald won a delicious pie from Muir’s bakery. Ben Rozon won a Kilted Cannuk gift certificate. And Kim Raymond took home a lovely Silver Bracelet. Incidentally, the raffle (which was organized by Lisa Chapman) raised a total of $224. The “wall of blue” (as Marlie Tilker described the phalanx of firefighters that greeted Friday’s diners) told me they were extremely pleased with the community’s support and hope to return with another pastarama.
Dunvegan artist counts the days
I ran into Dunveganite Sarah Jane Raymond last week at the Laggan Christmas Craft Fair. We only spoke briefly, but Sarah Jane told me she was having great success with her 2020 Calendar which features reproductions of twelve of her hand-painted Glengarry scenes. I had hoped to have a list of upcoming craft events where Sarah Jane would have a table. However, in the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about her calendar or snag one or more of them as Christmas gifts before she’s sold out, she can be reached at jane_ray.3991@hotmail.com. The calendars are $25 each.
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