Newsmaker

On August 23, at Harrington Hall on Allumette Island, the Chichester Recreation Association presented a drama production entitled Living Life.  Written by Kimberly Ranger, a member of the Recreation Association, the play tells the story of a woman and a man from childhood to the golden years.  Songs relating to each scene formed part of the performance.  Businesses in the region provided costumes and the set, volunteers looked after the canteen, and a special guest was the Bonnechere Manor Choir from Renfrew, who performed some of the evening’s numbers.The event attracted 100 people and raised $300.00 for the Association.

During the summer a group of local musicians has been playing every Friday night at the Hotel Pontiac in Fort William.  On August 24 the program included step dancing.  The musicians are Jimmy and Buddy Roy, Lorna Agnesi, Dave Rogers, Janet Retty, Larry Graham, Elaine Rochon, Billy Brennan and Linda Romain.

On September 5 Jim Coffey, of Esprit Rafting, showed two documentaries on environmental issues – uranium mining and the protection of the Dumoine River – at Cinema Lyn in Fort Coulonge.   About 180 people attended these showings.

On August 25 the comedy and dance fundraiser at Otter Lake raised $2396.95 in support of the Ste. Marie School Breakfast Program and the school’s Parent Committee.

On August 18 the Gatineau Valley Historical Society held its Annual Auction in the grounds of St. Stephen’s Church in Old Chelsea.  The event raised about $3000 after expenses, about the same amount as in 2006, according to auction director Richard Adams.

On August 19 seven churches, in Shawville, Campbell’s Bay and Bristol Ridge, pooled their resources and presented a concert of traditional hymns and contemporary praise and worship music at Mill Dam Park in Shawville.  The emcee was Pastor Todd Robinson, who organized the concert.

On May 28 the new book by Archie Pennie, Historic Treasures up the Gatineau, was launched at the annual dinner of the Gatineau Valley Historical Society in Chelsea.  The volume presents a collection of the author’s articles on people and places in the Gatineau, previously published in the Society’s journal Up the Gatineau.  It can be obtained through the Society, at a price of $10.00, by calling Harold and Margaret Reid at 819-827-0138.

At its meeting of May 7 Chelsea Municipal Council made two grants to artists
$1500 to Diane Lemire and Mary Faught to create three artistic vine archways for Old Chelsea Market;
$1000 to Catherine Joyce for her projected book Artists in the Gatineau Hills, to be printed  by Chelsea Books.

On May 23, 2007 the Clarendon Women’s Institute celebrated its 90^th anniversary at the Auberge Mont Blanc in Portage-du-Fort, with Rosaleen Dickson, former editor and publisher of The Equity newspaper, as guest speaker.