The Orleans Star Oct. 27, 2022

Providing tricks and treats for nearly 25 years

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

When Patrick Albert took his mother Ghislain to see a Hallowe’en display in 1999, little did either of them know that their visit would provide the impetus for the largest Hallowe’en display at a private residence in Orléans and arguably all of Eastern Ontario.

For sure, Patrick’s father Brian had no idea. In the early days, the Hallowe’en display was limited to the inside of their two-car garage on Pintail Terrace in Orléans Wood. Over the intervening years, it grew to the point where it now takes up the entire yard, both front and back, and even the side of the house.

During the first two weeks of the October, Hallowe’en enthusiasts flock to the house every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. By the third week of the month, the interest is so high they have to open the display up on Wednesday and

Thursday nights. Even then, people are willing to line up around the block to get their turn visiting the haunted display.

Patrick, who is now 38, and 71-year-old Brian begin setting up the outside part of the display in August. The eight rooms that make up the inside part of the display are filled with animatronics, flashing lights and things that go bump in the night. They are left intact year round.

One of the most time-consuming elements of the outside part of the display is a maze in the backyard which has to come down every year after Hallowe’en to prevent the elements from destroying the burlap fencing.

Besides all the animatronics, severed arms, countless skulls, hanging spiders and flying bats, the Alberts have a small army of friends who volunteer to help bring the display to life,

Brian and Patrick Albert are the father and son team behind the spectacular Hallowe’en display on Pintail Terrace in Orléans Wood.

Vic Dwyer (right) from Embrun was the winner of the three-burner BBQ in the Swiss Chalet/Harvey’s BBQ draw on Sept. 30. Mr. Dwyer was presented the BBQ by franchise owner Madat Kara (second from the left) manager Asim Kazmi (middle) and general manager Dharam Patel (second from the right). PHOTO SUPPLIED

Remembrance Day Poppy Campaign to kick off Friday, October 28

ORLÉANS – The 2023 Poppy Campaign will kick off this Friday with a ceremony at the Orléans Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. As in the past, the poppies will be available at a number of locations throughout Orléans. Poppy kiosks manned by volunteers from the Orléan Legion and the Rotary Club of Orléans will be located at the Canadian Tire store on Innes Road, both east end Costco stores, Walmart, Metro Convent Glen, the Great Canadian Superstore on Innes Road, Home Depot and Place d’Orléans. A drive-thru poppy stand will also be set up in the parking lot at the Great Canadian Superstore. Last year, the local poppy campaign raised more than $181,000 to benefit a number of Poppy Fund initiatives.

CLARIFICATION

In the front page opinion piece entitled “Young witness demonstrate true meaning of bravery” that was published in the Oct. 13 edition of the Orléans Star, the impression may have been given that the Crown Attorneys prosecuting the case reduced the number of victims from 16 to four and the number of charges from 54 to 14 because there was a fear it would complicate their case and reduce their chances of getting a guilty verdict. In fact, they streamlined their case to shorten the amount of time it would take to prosecute their case in court. I did not mean to question the credibility of the other alleged victims and potential witnesses. – Fred Sherwin

Father, son provide tricks and treats for the past 25 years

Continued from page 1

including one gentleman who is 6-foot-9 in stature. They don costumes and makeup and hide themselves in little nooks and corners to literally scare the daylights out of people.

On Hallowe’en, there are 30 volunteers helping out with the display.

For the past 13 years, the Alberts have used the display to raise money for CHEO. As of this past weekend, they’ve managed to raise over $4,000, bringing their 13-year total to nearly $20,000.

This year, they’ve added QR codes to several signs on the outside fence so people can make a donation with their cell phones.

If you do plan to visit the display, Patrick advises that you go as soon as it starts to get dark. If not, prepare to wait up to a half hour to get your turn.

One thing is for sure, no matter how long you wait, it will be worth it. The display with it’s various rooms and installations is not to be missed, and judging by the volume and decibel level of the screams emanating from behind the walls, it’s sure to spook even the most ardent doubters, which is why the display is such a successful fundraising initiative for CHEO.

And while it took more than six weeks to set up the display, it will take the Alberts less than two weeks to take it all down and put it away just in time to begin setting up their Christmas display.

That’s right – the Alberts not only have one of the most impressive Hallowe’en displays in Orléans, they also have an amazing Christmas display which is a must-see stop on anyone’s list of Christmas displays in the area.

Fall Colours Marathon organizer Adam Kourakis approaches the finish line in the first annual wedding dress race. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

Mother-daughter duo team up again to raise money to fight breast cancer

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans

Star

Breast cancer survivor and Orléans resident Gina Mertikas-Lavictoire has once again teamed up with her mother Katerina Mertikas to produce their fifth calendar to help raise money for valuable clinical trial research at the Ottawa Hospital.

The previous calendars raised about $45,000 to help fund a clinical trial into a new treatment that will take half the time and cost half as much as a previous treatment.

Mertikas-Lavictoire was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. After undergoing a double mastectomy and months of chemotherapy and radiation, the 39-year-old Orléans resident made a full recovery thanks to the efforts of the medical team at the Ottawa Hospital oncology department lead by Dr. Mark Clemons.

As determined as she was to beat her illness, she was equally determined to show her appreciation to her caregivers by giving back in some way.

Her immediate thought was to team up with her mother to produce a calendar of her mother’s artwork.

Katerina Mertikas is a celebrated Ottawa

artist known for painting colourful, expressionist scenes of childhood.

The first four calendars sold out in weeks. Gina and Katerina are hopeful that the 2023 calendar will sell out as well.

The calendars are still as popular as ever largely due to Katerina’s beautiful artwork and the worthy cause the calendars support.

“It’s been awesome,” says Gina. “People really love my mother’s artwork and they look forward now for the new calendar to come out.”

Katerina paints various scenes all year long with the idea that some of them will be ultimately used in the calendar.

The two women get together over a coffee or a glass of wine to go through everything and pick a scene to go with each month and season. As an added bonus, people have the opportunity to buy the original artwork of the paintings that appear in the calendar, the cost of which depends on the size of the paintings. A percentage of each painting sold will be added to the funds raised through the sale of the calendars.

The calendars cost $25 each and can be ordered by e-mailing Gina directly at gmertikas@gmail.com.

Gina Mertikas-Lavictoire (right) has raised more than $45,000 for breast cancer research at the Ottawa Hospital through the sale of an annual calendar featuring artwork by her mother, renowned Canadian artist Katerina Mertikas (left). PHOTO SUPPLIED

Community service

The word “serve” is defined as “performing a duty or service for another person or an organization.” I would add to that... “performing a duty or service for another person or an organization without any expectation of receiving something in return.”

Sadly, the idea of engaging in community service has become as outdated as the pay phone, VHS tapes and CDs. Altruism and selflessness are no longer qualities to aspire to.

But there are many ways one can serve our community and there are a number of organizations beyond your child’s school or minor sports team that would welcome you with open arms.

For instance, Orléans is blessed with a number of service clubs that do fantastic work every day. Among them are the Orléans Lion, Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est, the Rotary Club of Orléans and the Orléans Optimist Club. All four clubs are non-sectarian and apolitical.

They each have a different set of charities and initiatives they support and they each have their own set of fundraising activities. For instance, the Orléans Lions Club has two global causes. The first is to improve the quality of life of individuals diagnosed with disabilities – children in particular. The club’s second global cause is to prevent avoidable blindness and improve quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired.

The club hosts a number of fundraising events including an annual spaghetti dinner and an annual pickerel dinner. They also host the Magical Village every Christmas at Place d’Orléans, the Blind Anglers Fishing Derby in May and they provide the volunteers for the annual Canada Day Senior’s Bingo.

The Rotary Club’s main focus is literacy, youth mentorship and the global eradication of polio. The Rotary Club of Orléans supports the organization’s Youth Exchange Scholarship Program and the Dictonaries4Life literacy program. They also organize the Orléans Youth Awards and the S.O.A.R. Beach Volleyball Tournament.

Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est is all about children and youth. Kids are at the center of everything they do. The club was the driving force behind the creation of the kid’s playground at Millennium Park. It is also responsible for the Orléans O’ Canada celebration on Petrie Island and the sKreamers haunted attraction at the Proulx Farm. The club’s members also provide the lion’s share of volunteers for the Children’s Aid Society’s World Trivia Night.

Last, but by no means least, is the Club Optimiste St-Joseph Orléans. The francophone club is also kidcentric, with much of what they do revolving around children and children’s welfare.

No matter which service club you chose to join, you can be assured that whatever the club does is for the betterment of the community and what can be more gratifying than that?

– Fred Sherwin, editor

Fred Sherwin Owner and publisher Jody Maffett Editor

Ford gov’t needs to do more to address gun violence in Ontario

Gun violence has been a growing issue across Ontario and sadly, no community is immune. Just a few weeks ago, right here in Orléans, two men were shot and killed in the Circle K Plaza on Tompkins.

Growing up, the old Becker’s in that mall is where I would go to buy Slushies and bubble gum. The old Videoflicks is where we would grab movies and Nintendo games on Friday night. It’s heartbreaking news to hear that acts of gun violence are taking place in the community we call home.

Gun violence does not only have physical effects on communities, but also mental effects on those around it. The individuals and families involved. The survivors, the witnesses, and even those of us who are relatively distant but still impacted because of the proximity to our families and friends. These impacts can be long-lasting. We need to ensure that families, victims, and communities are not left to suffer in silence. In addition to ensuring our police have the resources to deter crime, and catch criminals once it is committed, we need to acknowledge that gun crime is a public health crisis.

Community safety has to be at the forefront of any discussion by elected officials. Disappointingly, the Government of Ontario is not doing enough to break the cycle of gun violence, because they are failing to

acknowledge gun crime as a public health issue.

We need more resources for trauma counselling and community-based interventions.

My colleague MPP Mitzie Hunter introduced Bill 9, Safe and Healthy Communities Act (Addressing Gun Violence), 2022, in the legislature to provide solutions to gun violence in Ontario.

If passed, this important legislation would allow for counselling services for survivors and families of gun violence to be covered by OHIP and allow Boards of Health to develop programs and services for reducing gun crime. This could include early interventions to divert youth and kids from drugs, gangs and the criminal activity that often escalates to violence.

Unfortunately, the Ford government voted against this legislation. Community Safety is not a partisan issue. We need to offer youth opportunities to divert them from poor choices. We need to ensure police have the resources they need to deter and to respond. And we must ensure that people receive the support they need once gun violence has occurred.

Gun violence has lasting impacts on families, friends, and communities. Adding the trauma and grief, if not properly managed, can feed to the cycle of violence later.

Stephen Blais Queen’s Park Corner

Ottawa’s next mayor will face a number of challenges

By the time you read this column, Ottawa will have elected a new mayor.

Whoever that person is, whether it’s Mark Sutcliffe or Catherine McKenney, they will face a myriad of challenges during their initial days and weeks in office.

Their first and most important priority is picking a chief of staff. The chief of staff has a number of unique duties. Besides filling the various positions in the mayor’s office, they act as a liaison between the mayor, senior staff and the various city councillors. They need to be able to wear a number of hats at the same time – the most important of which is that of a consensus builder.

The chief of staff is the unofficial city council whip. It’s their job to ensure that whatever motion the mayor either introduces or endorses gets passed.

Serge Arpin was Jim Watson’s chief of staff for his entire term in office and during that time I never heard an ill word spoken about him. He was arguably the most diplomatic person who has ever held the position. By contrast, Brendon McGuinty, who was Bob Chiarelli’s chief of staff when Chiarelli was the mayor of Ottawa from 2001 to 2006, was a little more direct and

Up Front

not afraid to ruffle some feathers if they needed to be ruffled.

(Coincidentally, McGuinty has been heavily involved in the Sutcliffe campaign as a key advisor and strategist.)

Walter Robinson was Larry O’Brien’s first choice as chief of staff. He remained in the job for six months before finally leaving due to irreconcilable differences. The main difference was the fact that O’Brien was his own chief advisor. No matter what course of action Robinson would recommend, O’Brien would always do his own thing. When Robinson left, O’Brien replaced him with a series of “yes” men. It’s little wonder that he would only serve one term in office.

Whoever the new mayor picks as

WINTER STAY

their chief of staff, they themself must immediately begin to find like-minded allies among the returning councillors and the rookies. The job of governing the city is all about establishing and maintaining relationships with your fellow councillors.

Larry O’Brien’s biggest flaw as mayor was that he never took the time to find like-minded allies. Instead, he alienated a number of councillors who were initially willing to work with him, and he never bothered to patch up those relationships.

Another good reason to establish relationships with like-minded councillors as soon as possible is the need to choose the various committee chairs and vice-chairs. The power to choose who gets to chair what committee is key to creating an atmosphere of cooperation with both the moderates and progressives on council.

Besides choosing a chief of staff and assigning committee chairs, the new mayor’s biggest challenge will be to manage expectations. It’s one thing to make promises in order to get elected. It’s quite another to fulfill those promises once you are elected. Reality has a way of tempering even the most modest of election promises.

But more important than trying to manage their supporters’ expectations, is the task of managing the expectations of the rookies on council.

Most new councillors assume the position with the best intentions and a laundry list of things they want to do. The new mayor will need to temper those expectations, and in the process, risk creating enemies before they’ve even been sworn in.

Other challenges the new mayor will face is creating a new budget, hiring a new chief of police, and getting the province to approve the city’s Official Plan, and in doing all this they need to establish themselves as the person in charge, especially when it comes to dealing with senior staff.

As a sitting councillor, McKenney already has established relationships with the senior management as well as most of the councillors who will likely win reelection. Sutcliffe doesn’t have that luxury, which is why it will be important for him to establish those relationships as soon as possible should he win the job.

It will be a tall order for whoever wins the election. But then again, no one said it would be easy.

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Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards now accepting nominations

STAR STAFF – Nominations are now being accepted for the 2022 Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards, which recognize the outstanding achievements of youth age five to 18.

Unlike other awards which are divided into categories, the Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards are designed to recognize youth who are outstanding in a variety of areas. For instance, they may excel in a specific sport or an artistic discipline, while maintaining excellent grades and

Anyone can submit a nomination, including a parent, teacher, coach or even the individual themselves.

The first step in the process is to put together a resume or CV listing the nominee’s various achievements between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022. Each submission must also contain the nominee’s name, address and phone number as well as the name, address and phone number of the nominator. Nominations can be submitted in either English or French.

The CVs will then be vetted by eight judges who will select the top 10

nominees who they feel are deserving of an Outstanding Youth Award. Each set of top 10 nominees will then be collated and the individuals who receive the most top 10 selections will receive an award.

The Outstanding Youth Awards are made possible thanks to the generous support of this year’s presenting sponsors – Collège La Cité, Collège Boréal and Université St-Paul, along with gold sponsors, M.L. Bradley Ltd., MIFO and Sobeys.

The program was started in 2005 by orleansonline.ca as a way to recognize the many accomplishments of local youth and

to act as a means of positive reinforcement for youth in the community.

Past recipients include Olympic speed skaters Ivanie Blondin and Vincent de Haïtre, three-time Canadian curling champion Rachel Homan, Canadian actress and singer Steffi D. and CTV’s “The Launch” winner Michelle Treacy.

To submit a nomination simple e-mail the nominee’s CV and other information to OYA@orleansstar.ca. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 30. The winners will be notified during the second week of December.

Multi-sport athlete Kevin Frost pens motivational first book

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

When Kevin Frost first took up the sport of speed-skating in his late 30s, he did it as a way to take back his life after losing his sight and hearing to Usher’s Syndrome.

At the time, he had no idea of the inspiration figure he would become to hundreds of physically challenged youth and adults, as well as many able-bodied people.

He eventually used his success – as a speed-skater, cyclist, rower, runner and now golfer – to motivate others to be the best they can be, or in his words, “a champion”.

Frost has taken all his experiences – both his successes and failures – and put them in a new book entitled Deaf Blind Champion: A true story of hope, inspiration and excellence in sport and life

In his own words, the book is about “reaffirming that anyone and everyone needs to know that anything is possible and no matter how tough things get, there is always going to be a new tomorrow.”

“I thought I lost everything in my life when I went deaf and blind,” Frost explains. “But in the depths of the challenges I faced, I found small salvations. It took my disabilities to help me realize what an incredible life I could lead.”

After slowly losing his sight in his early teens, Frost was eventually diagnosed with Usher’s Syndrome in March 2002 at the age of 35.

“Friend’s noticed that I was walking into chairs, walls and my kids’ toys and knocking things over, so I agreed to go to a specialist and that’s when I was diagnosed with Usher’s” says Frost.

Usher’s Syndrome robs you of your hearing at an early age and eventually your vision. Kevin has less than five per cent tunnel vision and 10 per cent of his hearing.

Over the years he has had two guide dogs to help him along the way – Nemo, who passed away in 2015 – and Lewis, who recently had to be retired. Frost is currently on a waiting list for a new guide dog.

Besides the help of his guide dogs and his children Madison, Montana and Mitchell, Frost has been blessed by a number of individuals including the various coaches he’s had over the years to his fellow Lions Club members, (Frost is a member of the Orléans Lions Club), to the Canadian Institute for the Blind and dozens of others who have become close friends over the years.

“I have become who I am because of some amazing people who have become part of my journey,” says Frost.

The 2022 Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards

The Arts – Academics – Sports Community Service – Humanitarianism

Do you know someone in your community under the age of 18 whose talents and abilities set them apart during the past year? If so, why not consider nominating them for the Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards? Nominees must be 17 years old or younger as of Sept. 1, 2022, and reside within the City of Ottawa east of Blair Road. Nominees will be judged on their accomplishments between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30, 2022. All submissions must include the name, address and phone number of both the nominee and the nominator as well as a resume of the nominee’s accomplishments. There are no categories per se – those nominated will be judged on their accomplishments in any one area, or a combination of areas. Nominations can be submitted by e-mail to OYA@orleansstar.ca or regular mail to The Orléans Star c/o 745 Farmbrook Cres., Orléans ON, K4A 2C1. The deadline for entries is Nov. 15. For additional information visit www.orleansonline.ca/OYA, or call Fred Sherwin at 613-447-2829.

The book is part autobiography, part selfhelp and 100 per cent inspirational.

“When you have a purpose behind your actions, and that purpose is positive and compelling, you will absolutely achieve your goals and become a champion, that is the main thing I hope to get across to people who take the time to read this book,” says

Deaf Blind Champion is available through Amazon. Additionally, you can order a copy by visiting Frost’s website at deafblindspeedskater.com. Frost plans to use the proceeds from the sale of the first 250 copies to produce an audio book for people who are partially or totally blind.

Frost.

Orléans blind-deaf athlete Kevin Frost recently published his first book entitled Deaf Blind Champion. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

Keeping Orléans motorists on the road for over 28 years

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

With winter quickly approaching, now is the time to take your car into a reputable service centre to have a seasonal vehicle inspection to avoid any potential surprises down the road.

Precision Automotive on Vantage Drive has been providing honest professional service for an honest price for more than 28 years.

With 10 bays, four licensed technicians and two apprentice technicians, Precision is the largest independently owned service centre in Orléans. They also have the expertise to service any make and model of vehicle.

Technicians at Precision will check all your fluid conditions and levels, tire condition and pressure, as well as all your drive belts and hoses.

There is no greater potential for disaster than an unforeseen breakdown in the dead of winter – not only is it inconvenient and usually results in an expensive towing bill – it can be extremely dangerous.

Providing peace of mind for you and your family is what Precision Automotive is

all about. Owner Rob Brouwer and his staff have a well-earned reputation for doing things right the first time, every time and they back up their work with an industryleading 2-year/40,000km warranty on most new installed parts and labour.

Why not take advantage of their expertise and have your vehicle checked out today to avoid the chance of a potential headache tomorrow?

There is nothing more annoying than an unexpected mechanical failure that could have easily been prevented by a trip to Precision Automotive.

Precision is also your one-stop shop for snow tires. As driving conditions get more severe with each passing winter, it makes sense to consider purchasing a set of snow or all-weather tires.

When driving in severe winter conditions, a set of snow tires will give added traction on both snow and ice, help prevent sliding and loss of control, and keep you from getting stuck in conditions that would challenge even the best all-season tires.

Precision Automotive sells most every brand of snow and all-weather tires and they are more than happy to discuss

A good set of snow tires is an investment in safety and peace of mind.

Precision Automotive has nearly every brand of snow tire to suit your vehicle and winter driving conditions. FILE PHOTO

the differences between each brand and make of tire so that you get the best value for your dollar.

Precision Automotive is located at 385 Vantage Dr, behind the McDonald’s

restaurant at Innes and Tenth Line Road. You can also check out their website at precisionautomotive.ca, or call them at 613-841-5550.

Happy Motoring!

Willowbend Retirement Community celebrates 2nd anniversary

The residents and staff at the Willowbend Retirement Community on Trim Road near Innes recently celebrated the second anniversary of the Riverstone facility with music by Bob and Don, champagne, and of course some birthday cake. Willowbend first opened its doors in October 2020 and today has more than 120 residents.

FRED SHERWIN PHOTOS

Then feel free to enter our new contest for a chance to win a $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE to one of our participating businesses. Simply let us know if you read the paper some of the time or all of the time and submit your answer to info@orleansstar.ca. A draw will take place every two weeks. Last week’s winner was Shelly M. ARE

Young Orléans golfer enjoying success on the links

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

Isaiah Ibit is a young man on a mission.

The 16-year-old St. Peter High School student recently won the National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association (NCSSAA) open boys golf championship with an impressive 66 at the Rideau View Golf Club.

Early in the season, he won the Ottawa Valley Golf Association (OVGA) Junior City and District Championship for the second year in a row and he placed third at the Ontario Summer Games. He also won the Junior Club Championship at his home course Camelot.

Last year, Ibit tied for third in both the Ontario Juvenile U17 Championship and the Ontario Junior U19 Championship.

He is currently the third ranked U17 golfer in the province.

His goal is to earn a golf scholarship at a Division 1 school in the United States.

It should come as no surprise that Ibit’s favourite golfer is Tiger Woods, although he’s also a big fan of Rory McIlroy.

Ibit was introduced to the sport of golf by his father David when he was just a toddler.

“I would swing a club and just knock balls around. I think I was three or four,” recalls Ibit.

By the time we was 10 years old, Ibit was already playing in tournaments. In fact, he placed second in his very first junior club tournament at the age of 10.

His father, who is also the athletic director and golf coach at St. Peter, taught him until he was 14 years old, at which point he began to take private lessons from a professional instructor.

Ibit says the strongest aspect of his game is his driving accuracy, course management and his short game around the greens.

The areas he plans to work on over the winter are his putting and his golf swing with the hope of gaining more club head speed while maintaining his consistency and accuracy.

The 66 he shot at the NCSSAA high school championship was his lowest round ever. It also helped St. Peter finish second in the four-man team competition, which earned them a berth in the OFSAA provincial high school championships.

Unfortunately, the OFSAA championships were held at the same time as the Team Ontario selection camp and provincial U19 tour championship in Windsor.

after carding rounds of 74, 77 and 74.

As a current member of Team Ontario, Ibit chose the latter in the hope of keeping his place on the team. He finished the 52hole tournament in a four-way tie for fifth

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Once the season is over here in Ontario, Ibit plans to head to Florida for the Christmas holidays where he will play in a few tournaments and hopefully catch the attention of some U.S. college recruiters.

Orléans teenager Isaiah Ibit is currently the third ranked U17 golfer in the province. FRED SHERWIN PHOTO

Caravela owner organizing trips to his native island of Teceira

By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star

Fernando Diniz is the owner of Caravela Restaurante on Innes Road. The Portuguese eatery is one of the most popular dining establishments in Orléans.

A native of Teceira in the Azores, a group of Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic, Diniz immigrated to Canada in 1985. After running a successful construction company for more than 30 years, he opened Caravela in 2016 and has never looked back.

After immigrating to Canada, Diniz would often go back to his native Teceira to visit his parents and siblings. The COVID pandemic, however, put an end to his visits along with most other international travel. During that time, Fernando dreamed of turning his childhood home into a bed and breakfast for his friends and customers. The unfortunate passing of his mother earlier this year left the home empty (his father passed away in 2015).

While he was visiting the island last spring to take care of his mother’s affairs, he began renovating the four-bedroom house. He returned again in August for another six-week stretch to finish the work, which included adding an additional bathroom, a

covered deck in the back, a private secondfloor terrace and a gazebo in the backyard. All of which to say, the house is now ready for visitors.

Diniz is opening up his childhood home to friends and customers who want to visit Teceira for a week or two next summer with he himself acting as host.

Direct flights are available to the island from either Montreal (5 hours) or Toronto (5 hours, 45 minutes). Both flights are overnight and arrive early the next morning. The Azores are four hours ahead of Ottawa.

Diniz will pick his guests up at the airport and drive them to the house where they can freshen up before going to the grocery store to buy whatever sundry items they need (the porch is equipped with a gas BBQ). Guests can also purchase a phone card which will give them a local number to access the Internet and download emails.

The house is equipped with free Wifi and cable to access Canadian and U.S. television stations.

With Diniz acting as tour guide, the guests will visit Praia Da Vitoria City during their first full day on the island, where they can go swimming on the public beach and enjoy

lunch at a local restaurant.

After returning to the house, they will be able to enjoy a 2.5-hour siesta before preparing to go out for dinner at another local restaurant chosen by Diniz.

On Day 2 of their visit, Diniz will drive the guests to Angra do Heroismo City where they will tour the local gardens, have lunch, visit Patio da Alfandega and Monte Brasil, drop by the Angra Marina Hotel to enjoy a drink while enjoying the amazing view, and finally visit Quinta dos Açores for an ice cream before returning home. And that’s just the first two days.

On Day 3, the guests will visit Quartro Ribeiras, where there are natural ocean pools for swimming, and the wine museum is in nearby Biscoitos. After lunch, the party will visit the Algar do Carvão, an ancient lava tube located in the central part of the island. Once everyone has had a chance to explore the caves, the party will return to the house to relax before heading out to dinner.

On Day 4, the guests will visit the Serra du Cume which has platforms offering a breathtaking view of the island’s interior. The Serra du Cume plateau is actually a volcanic

caldera. After enjoying the view, the party will pick up some food at a local restaurant and enjoy a picnic in the mountains at Lagoa do Falcão before returning back to the house for dinner.

On Day 5, the guests will tour the southern part of the island with stops at the seaside village of Praia de Riviera, the natural ocean pools at Porto Martins; then the Baia de Salsa and finally, the Gruta das Agulhas in Puerto Judeo which is only accessible at low tide.

On Day 6, the guests will enjoy a relaxing day at the house capped by a BBQ dinner prepared by Diniz and served with a bottle of Portuguese wine from his personal collection.

On the seventh and final day, the group will enjoy breakfast together and relax until lunch time when Diniz will take those who wish to go on a tour of several “secret” bars in town before returning home to pack for the flight home, or a connecting flight to mainland Portugal if they plan to extend their vacation.

Diniz is already taking reservations for next summer. Anyone interested in visiting Teceira can either drop by Caravela, email him at fernando@accuratepoint.ca or call 613-868-1237.

Teceira - also known as the Lilac Island - is a World Heritage Site in the Azores archipelago. With sandy beaches, stunning views and a burgeoning wine industry, you won’t want to miss a thing! Please

Visitors to Teceira can enjoy magnificent views of the central plateau from the Serra do Cume observation deck. FACEBOOK PHOTO

Visitors will get to enjoy home-cooked meals prepared by their host as well as visit a number of the local restaurants. FACEBOOK PHOTO

Service Clubs of Orléans

Orléans Lions Club: ‘We Serve’

By Jody Maffett

The International Association of Lions Clubs, more commonly known as Lions Clubs International, is an international nonpolitical service organization established in 1916 in Chicago, Illinois and in Canada in 1917.

Local Lions Club programs include sight conservation, hearing and speech conservation, diabetes awareness, youth outreach, international relations, environmental issues, and many other initiatives.

The aim of any Lions Club is to create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world, and:

• to promote the principles of good government and good citizenship;

• to take an active interest in the civic, cultural, social and moral

welfare of the community;

• to unite the clubs in the bonds of friendship, good fellowship and mutual understanding;

• to provide a forum for the open discussion of all matters of public interest; provided, however, that partisan politics and sectarian religion shall not be debated by club members;

- and to encourage service-minded people to serve their community without personal financial reward, and to promote high ethical standards.

Members of the Orléans Lion Club take part in a number of local fundraising initiatives, including monthly Seniors’ Bingos at retirement communities in Orléans, the Blind Anglers Tournament held every May and MP Marie-France Lalonde’s strawberry festival and corn roast held on Petrie Island in August.

They also organize special dinners and events every year to raise money for their vision initiatives and to help send children with diabetes to Camp Banting. They also sell guide dog calendars to raise money to help train guide dogs for the blind and collect used eyewear from opticians in Ottawa’s east end for recycling. This year they collected over 13,000 pair of glasses.

Another important initiative of the area Lions Clubs, including the Orléans Lions Club is the A4 District Memorial Forest on Russell Road.

The forest, which more closely resembles an arboretum, is located on the Innovative Community Support Services (ICSS) vocational farm. Lions Club members and even the general public can have trees planted in the garden to memorialize their loved ones.

Orléans Lions Club

Do you want to help your community with other enthusiastic and like-minded individuals? If so, why not consider joining the Lions Club?

Visit e-clubhouse.org/sites/orleans_on/ for more information.

We’re social – follow us to find out more!

The Orléans Lions Club meets the first and third Monday of every month at the Roy Hobbs Community Centre. The meeting starts with dinner followed by a discussion of whatever initiatives happen to be on the agenda. The club’s next meeting will take place on Nov. 7.

For more information about the Orléans Lions Club visit www. e-clubhouse.org/sites/orleans_on.

I am humbled and honoured that you have once again elected me to represent our community. I am deeply committed to serving you and will continue the hard work of building a better Orléans EastCumberland together.

Je suis touché et honoré que vous m’ayez élu une fois de plus pour représenter notre communauté. Je suis profondément engagé à vous servir et je poursuivrai le travail acharné pour bâtir ensemble un meilleur Orléans Est - Cumberland.

The Orléans Star

Orléans Lion president Sylvie Blanchette (far left), along with Lion District A4 Gov. Sue Tunnicliffe (centre), Alexandra Coghlan (second from right) and Lion Claude Betrand (far right) present a cheque for $1,500 to Father Taras Kinash from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est: ‘In the service of children’

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans Star

Kiwanis International is a global community of service clubs dedicated to improving the lives of children one community at a time.

In 1988, Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est was granted its charter from Kiwanis International and has been an active service club chapter in the eastern Ottawa and Orléans area since. You may know them from some of some the events they organize like O Canada Orléans (the Petrie Island Canada Day celebration) and the sKreamers haunted attraction at Proulx Farm in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

MISSION – The Kiwanis mission is to help kids around the world. Whether rolling up their sleeves or collaborating with their peers, Kiwanians make transformative changes through its more than 19 million service hours a year.

Local clubs like Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est look out for the community and the international organization takes on large-scale challenges, such as fighting disease and poverty.

EVENTS – Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est is responsible for organizing a number of community events including O Canada Orléans and sKreamers.

The service club is also responsible for the construction of the children’s playground at Millennium Park, supplying helmets to youth across Ottawa as part of its collaboration with Helping With Bikes, and providing computers to children and families in need to help bridge the digital divide.

The Club also organized the first ever World Trivia Night in 1993 and eventually handed the event over to the Children’s Aid Society,

which has turned it into its biggest fundraising event of the year.

MEMBERSHIP – Members of

Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est are an eclectic mix of ages, genders, occupations, backgrounds and interests. They are all passionate about making their community and the world a better place for children so they can thrive. Unlike most traditional service clubs, Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est does not require you to pay for a membership. Instead, they ask for your most valuable resource

TIME – In lieu of dues, membership is earned through 25 hours of community service annually. By becoming a member, you get the opportunity to give back to your community and build fellowship with people who share your values. Membership also gives you the opportunity to attend all of the club’s social events and initiatives.

Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est members Zybina Richards (left), Harley Bloom and Bill Downham (far right) recently welcomed the club’s newest member, Olivia Lund.

COMMITMENT – By becoming a member of Kiwanis Eastern Ottawa Est, you get a golden opportunity to give back to your

community and become part of the Club’s tradition of service. The Club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit www.keoe.ca

Service Clubs of Orléans

Rotary Club of Orléans: ‘Service Above Self’

By Jody Maffett

The Orléans Star

Rotary International is a humani-tarian service organization that brings together business and professional leaders in order to provide community service, promote integrity and advance goodwill, peace, and understanding in the world. It is a nonpolitical and non-religious organ-ization.

The first Rotary Club was founded in Chicago in 1905. The first Rotary Club in Canada was established in Winnipeg seven years later.

In 1985, Rotary launched its PolioPlus program to immunize all of the world’s children against polio. In the years since, the organization has immunized nearly two billion children worldwide.

The Rotary Club of Orléans was chartered in 2008 and is one of nine chartered Rotary Clubs in the Ottawa region and one of the few bilingual clubs.

Among the events the club organizes every year are the Young People of Character Awards (formally known as the Orléans

Youth Awards), food drives, food hampers and cleaning up local parks.

Funds raised by the Club go to help a number of important projects including the Ottawa Rotary Home which offers respite programs for child, youth and adults who have a physical disability or complex medical needs.

This Club also participates in an international youth exchange; the Dictonaries4Life program that ensures every Grade 3 student has a dictionary, the “Keep the Music Playing, Scholarship” for unprivileged students in Jamaica and they’ve teamed up with the Carpenters Centre for Smart Classrooms to build classrooms in the Caribbean country of Dominica.

The Club was instrumental in the creation of Miracle League, a baseball league for special needs children with games played at a fully accessible, purpose-built baseball diamond in Notre-Dames-des-Champs.

Rotary Club of Orléans members also volunteer during the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Drive and the annual Remembrance

Rotary Club of Orléans members share a common bond of fellowship and the desire to place ‘Service Above Self’.

Day ceremony at the Orléans Legion.

Individual membership in the Rotary Club costs $250 a year. The monthly breakfast meetings cost $15 each to cover the cost of the actual breakfast.

By becoming a member, you get the opportunity to give back to your community and build fellowship with men and women

who share your values.

The club meets every Wednesday morning at 8 am. Currently the club is meeting via zoom with the intention of going back to in person meetings in the near future.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Orléans, visit portal.clubrunner.ca/ 4921.

SATURDAY, OCT. 29

HALLOWE’EN DJ PARTY at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. Dust off your favourite 80s, 90s and 2000s costumes and have some fun at OBC. DJ Geoff Paquet will be spinning some vinyl all night long. Proceedings kick off at 9 p.m.

TAPROOM 260 in the Orléans Town Centre, 260 Centrum Blvd. presents Hallowe’en Night of Terror starting at 8 p.m. Find your best costume and get ready for a night of terror. Join our Hallowe’en party on with live music featuring The Underground, prizes for best costumes, and some great specials!

TUESDAY, NOV. 1

MUSIC TRIVIA NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from 8 to10 p.m. Come out and test your music knowledge

Free to play. Prizes to be won. $10 Steins. $15 Flatbreads

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2

MUSIC BINGO NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from 8-10 pm. Come out and test your music knowledge. $5 per card. Funds are split 50/50. One of the three winners of the evening will get a chance at the 50/50 amount. $8 DIY Seltzer Bar, + $10 Bifanas.

SUNDAY, NOV. 6

WINTER CRAFT MARKET at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. from noon to 4 p.m. Join us and 20 other vendors showcasing some original and hand crafted items perfect for seasonal Christmas Shopping. There will be a pig roast happening at the OBC in conjunction with the craft market.

FRIDAY, NOV. 11

REMEMBRANCE DAY

CEREMONY on the parade grounds at the Orléans Legion Branch 632. Colour party parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. Ceremony at 10:45 a.m. Light snacks and assorted dessert to follow.

NAVAN REMEMBRANCE

DAY CEREMONY starting at 10:45 a.m. in front of the Navan cenotaph next to the Navan Memorial Arena.

SUNDAY, NOV. 13

THE ORIGINAL NAVAN

MARKET from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Navan Fair Grounds, with more than 150 local vendors. Come see why the Original Navan Market has become on of the most popular outdoor markets in Eastern Ontario.0

David John Mason, 78

Passed away on October 15, 2022

Madeleine Clouthier, 85

Passed away on October 14, 2022

Gaëten Périard, 72

Passed away on Oct. 13, 2022

UPGRADE YOUR LIFE