Hot Shots: In Honour Of The Ones We Love Inc. 22nd Annual "Dreams Do Come True Gala” Pics

February 1, 2020 at the Ciociaro Club, 3745 North Talbot Road, Oldcastle, ON. Photos by Rod Denis, assisted by Sherrilynn Colley-Vegh. All people in photos listed from the left. The 22nd Annual In Honour Of The Ones We Love (IHOWL) “Dreams Do Come True Gala”

1. Over 1,000 IHOWL guests were welcomed at the Ciociaro Club to celebrate the lives of Vito Badalamenti, Michele (Mike) Calamita, Mary Kathryn “Mary-Kit” Hambleton, John Reiner, and Giuseppe (Joe) Conciatori. Posing outside the entrance to the hall was the Conciatori family: George and Melissa Pazianas; Emelia and Michael Lozynsky; and Kelly, Maurizio, Silvana, Tony, Franca, Jenna, Silvana and Christian Conciatori.

2. Once again, McDonald’s Restaurants Windsor & Essex County supported the gala with a sponsorship and were represented by management, their spouses, and guests: Gene Dennis, Senior ICO Researcher at G. Dennis Financial Management and from Evanandrew Foods, Inc. — Julie Dennis, Community Relations Representative; Tony and Nancy Pizzo, Supervisor; Andy Bukovac (local McDonald’s franchisee and Owner of Evanandrew Foods, Inc.) and his wife Eva; Nancy and John Fogalia; Natasha Kovacs, Senior Financial Planner at TD and Jason Schneider, Director & Team Lead, CIBC Commercial Banking.

3. The “Above and Beyond” Award was presented to two amazing ladies, Julie Dennis and Nancy Pizzo (far right), from McDonald’s Restaurants Windsor & Essex County who are pictured with In Honour’s Anita Imperioli (middle) and Teresa Silvestri.

4. The Badalamenti family lit a candle in honour of Vito Badalamenti as part of the memorable candle lighting ceremony, which reminds us of all of our loved ones who have passed away.

5. Highlights of the evening were two cheque presentations to IHOWL’s Anita Imperioli (middle) and Teresa Silvestri (second from right) from Vince and Margaret Moceri (Windsor Disposal Services /GFL Green For Life) which is included in the $375,000 total raised and counting!. In Honour is proud to fund diverse projects that are beneficial to patients with life-threatening illnesses, disabilities, mental health and their families.

6. This year the “Hand in Hand” Award was given to McDonald’s Restaurant franchisee Andy Bukovac of Evanandrew Foods, Inc. He is photographed with Motor City Community Credit Union CEO Robert Griffith during the official award presentation.

7. Building on their community support by co-sponsoring the gala was Alpine Construction represented by: Mike and Lauren Underwood; Chris, Ashley, Ivanna and Lou Savoni; Alyssa Meloche; with Chris, Joan and Greg Renaud.

8. Canadian Club (CC) has also been a big supporter of IHOWL for several years. CC guests in attendance were: Nicholas Brancaccio; Art Jahns; Christine Malott; Mary-Ellen Willard, Executive Creative Director at adHOME; Gord Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island; Tish Harcus, Brand Ambassador Canadian Club and her husband Ed;

9. The evening began with hors d’oeuvres from Koolini and sparkling wine, courtesy of Pelee Island Winery. Raise your glass to toast another valued sponsor, the team from the Motor City Community Credit Union: Sue Mancini, Assistant Branch Manager; Sonia Lenhardt, Branch Manager; Rob Griffith, CEO; Mario Coppola, IT Manager; Dawn Stallard, Executive Assistant and Matt Sauro, Credit Solution Manager.

10. Honouring the lives of Mary Kathryn “Mary-Kit” Hambleton and John Reiner were: Dan, Debbie and Pat Reiner; Brad and Patricia Hearn; Beth Huneault; Robyn and Matt Conte and Johnny Reiner.

Find out more information on this local charity by visiting their website: InHonour.ca.

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from the bookshelf Farmerettes In World War II And A Young Woman Determined To Find Her Freedom By Marlene Markham-Gay

Former Farmerette Shirleyan English and Bonnie Sitter have written an historical account of the Ontario Farm Service Force and the young ladies who worked as Farmerettes on farms during WWII. The book is called “Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz: Memories of Ontario Farmerettes.” As Sitter writes, “These young ladies are part of Ontario agricultural history and World War II history and have never been recognized for their war effort.”

While the men were off fighting for our freedom, the young women (Farmerettes) promised to “Lend a Hand” and were transported by the Farm Service Force to farms such as the one located in Cottam, a hometown connection here in southwestern Ontario.

Included is a very detailed letter from a Farmerette who worked at this camp, as well as black and white photos.

Forty stories are told in this fascinating book, along with photos showing the ladies working, as well as having fun enjoying their camaraderie.

Sitter writes, “The former Farmerettes that I have spoken with are mostly in their late ‘80s and early ‘90s and their Farmerette days are still wonderful memories to all of them. It is time we said thanks for your service. The crops would not have been planted and picked and hoed and harvested without them. Thousands and thousands of them.”

Kim Blackwell, the Artistic Director at 4th Line Theatre near Peterborough Ontario, heard about the book and contacted the authors. Alison Lawrence, playwright, has been commissioned to write a play based on the book.

It is expected to be of interest to former Farmerettes and their families located across the province as well as farm communities across Ontario.

“Onion Skins and Peach Fuzz” is available at Essex & Community Historical Research Society, 18 Gordon Avenue, Essex; Kingsville Legion Museum, 145 Division Road South, Kingsville and also on the website: BonnieSitterPhotography.wordpress.com.

Next up is an historical novel titled “To the River: The Remarkable Journey of Caroline Quarlls, A Freedom Seeker on the Underground Railroad” by Larry A. McClellan and Kimberly Simmons. This is the true story of a beautiful 16 year old and her journey to escape slavery by way of the Underground Railway.

It was in 1843 that Quarlls left by herself to find her freedom by way of Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.

She crossed the Detroit River and reached her destination, Sandwich Ontario. All the while there were bounty hunters following her.

Quarlls had shared correspondence with an American abolitionist who helped her on this journey, the letters were saved, and they are the reason the account is accurate.

She married another Underground Railroad survivor Allen Watkins and raised a family. The Watkins’ descendants reside in Sandwich, Windsor and the surrounding areas, today. Co-author Simmons is a descendant of Quarlls and Watkins families.

The authors write, “Caroline’s journey to freedom began with first walking to the Mississippi, going to the river to escape her bondage. Then, weeks later, when she arrived in Detroit, she was going to the river to claim her freedom in Canada. Throughout, it was a journey of boldness, courage, and great trust in those willing to help.”

This book is an accurate account of an incident in black history and it is a valuable addition to everyone’s library. Historical reading at its best, complete with facts and intrigue, you will want to read it.

“To the River: The Remarkable Journey of Caroline Quarlls, A Freedom Seeker on the Underground Railroad” is available at Biblioasis Book Store, 1520 Wyandotte Street East in Windsor and online at: ThornCreekPress.com.

Marlene Markham-Gay is the former host of CFTV’s “Storyteller.” She promotes local authors through the book corner at The Essex Railway Station, inviting them to display and sell books. She has encouraged all eight of her grandchildren to read.