I’ve just learned that Dunvegan’s Kenyon Presbyterian Church will be closed again on Sunday. But worry not. The church is still in business. Interim moderator Rev. Jim Ferrier tells me that this week’s service in Dunvegan has been cancelled so members of the congregation can attend St. Columba Presbyterian Church’s annual Memorial Sunday service at 11:00 am. Members of Kirk Hill United Church will also join them, in accord with a long-standing tradition. If the spirit moves you, you are more than welcome to attend.However, all those who do are encouraged to wear a mask.
Sign with gravitas
If you travel Dunvegan Road regularly, you may have noticed the sturdy new wooden frame for the museum sign at the corner of County Roads 34 and 24. It’s much more solid looking than the old one, and I knew in an instant who built it: Ben Williams. So I texted him for confirmation. “Yes,” he replied, “my nephew Jesse and I put it up. We dug the holes by hand with a great old-school levered digging tool I borrowed from my brother.” Thank you both. It looks great.
If you like honey…
Honey on your lightly toasted crumpet or (so I’m told) in your morning cuppa can be mighty fine. But you and I owe a great more to bees — honey, wild and bumble — than that. It’s estimated that these busy little workers pollinate 70% of the vegetable, fruits, nuts and grains that we eat, and drink. If you’d like to know a bit more about how these winged wonders enrich your life, block off Saturday, August 13th in your calendar app. That’s when the Glengarry Pioneer Museum is holding its very first Glengarry Honey Fair.
A bevy of local beekeepers will have exhibition tables and tents where they’ll display their wares and gladly answer your questions about why they’re passionate about bees. If permitted by the public health officials, they may even offer samples. If they do, it will be interesting to see how your favourite(s) match the results of the Official Honey Tasting competition. Glengarry food experts Julia Graham and Ronna Mogelon, have volunteered to judge the entries on attributes such as colour, aroma, texture and finish. After their deliberations, the winners will be announced and presented with tongue-in-cheek award certificates that range from “BEE Happy” and ‘BEE Sweet’ at the entrance to the hive to ‘BEElicious’ and ‘The BEE’s Knees’ at the top.
In addition to apiaries, there will be a number of bee-adjacent exhibitors including: threeflower farms; a collector of antique beekeeping tools: a farmer with organic vegetables and baking; a supplier of perennial seedlings and transplants and more.
There will also be a craft corner where you can build a bee house for your garden, and informative presentations from honey experts. One speaker will demonstrate how the process works using a transparent hive. Another will delve deep into pollen. And a third will discuss the use of honey in cooking.
The ‘queen bee’ of the honey fair committee, Marlie Tilker, recommends taking a look at the museum’s bee-friendly heritage garden. “It’s a great way to learn, first hand, which plants are best at attracting these super pollinators,” Marlie told me.
The event runs from 10 am to 4 pm… and admission is $10 per person ($5 for museum members) and $25 for families ($15 for member families). Come and spend the day. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, the Dunvegn Recreation gang will have an on-site refreshment tent withbeverages, snacks and light lunches. I believe the DRA is now accepting debit and credit cards, so even if you’re low on cash after snapping up all the great honey bargains, you won’t starve.
A toast to fine music
If you’re a classical music enthusiast, I have good news for you. On Thursday, August 18th at 7:30 pm soloist Nicholas Deek, the concert pianist from Ottawa who wowed last year’s audience, is returning to Dunvegan to give a recital at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s popular Classical Music Under the Stars event. This year, Nicholas has chosen a “phantasie” themed program with works by Schubert, Chopin, Bach and Mozart. While the program isn’t yet written in stone, some of the pieces under consideration are: the Wanderer Fantasy in C Major and Fantasy in C Minor, K 4758.
While performing in Poland, Nicholas noticed that inviting a local winery to the event was a hit with the audience. He suggested that the museum consider doing the same. So Stonehouse Vineyard from Lochiel was approached and jumped at the chance to showcase their estate grown, produced and bottled wines. “Classical music lovers are often fine wine connoisseurs, and vice-versa,” Joanne Pratt, co-owner of Stonehouse told me, “It’s a natural joint promotion opportunity.” As of this writing, the museum is still awaiting permission from daddy (in this case, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario). However, the hope is to offer ticket holders a complimentary wine tasting… and to make additional tastings available for purchase.
As the name of the event implies, the recital will be held outdoors under the moon and stars.So don’t forget your favourite lawn chair, a warm jacket and possibly bug spray. You’re also welcome to come early, bring a picnic supper and dine al fresco before the concert. In the case of poor weather, organizers are waiting to hear the event could be moved down the road to the DRA hall. However, there’s always the Williams Pavillion as a fallback.
Tickets are available for purchase now through the museum’s online box office:GlengarryPioneerMuseum.ca. The cost is $25 per person, or $20 for museum members. Children under 12 are free.
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