The Villager 2017 May by Villager Community News

May 2017

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Township news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Community events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Celebrating 100 years of community service By Ellen Cohen For 100 years, among many other oaths, Lions members around the world have sworn to follow a code of ethics that includes the following: to always bear in mind obligations as a citizen of their country and their community; to give freely of their time; and to aid others by giving sympathy to those in distress, aid to the weak, and their substance to the needy. As Lions International, the largest service club in the world, and their 1.35 million members from every corner of the globe celebrate their 100th Anniversary, there is ample evidence that Lions take those oaths seriously. A local example is the 25-member Washago Lions Club. In an interview with Jim Rice, a 17-year member and current president of the Washago Lions Club, he explained that some of the initiatives they get involved in are causes taken up around the world, and some are strictly in support of a community, local families, causes or events. In any case, the impact is clear. In the early 1960’s, the Lions Club of Washago purchased land on Lake Couchiching at the bottom of Quetton Street. In 1967, the year of Canada’s centennial, they donated that land to the Township of Severn. It is known as Washago Centennial Park and it’s a remarkable community facility.

Many people beyond our community boundaries also benefit from the generosity of the Lions Club, mostly offered to those in need without fanfare. “We are very lucky to be able to see the results of our service. We support four children’s camps: a CNIB camp on Lake Joseph; Camp Huronda in Huntsville, for kids with Type 1 diabetes; a camp for the deaf in Parry Sound; and a dialysis camp in Dorset,” said Jim. “We know our contribution helps these kids.” The Washago Club also helps the Lions Foundation of Canada in providing service dogs free of charge for those who are sightimpaired, have autism, diabetes, or suffer from seizures. Jim said the need is great – and growing. The benefits, Jim says, are immeasurable. Emergency aid is also important to Lions. When a tornado touched down in Beeton, Ontario, the local club raised emergency funds totalling $10,000 in a matter of hours. The same thing happens when there is local flooding and a need for water or other emergency help. Jim said that even after 100 years, with 46,000 clubs around the world, all Lions follow the code of ethics, and continue to embrace the founder’s vision. That founder of Lions International, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old businessman from Chicago, would be proud.

The Lions Club of Washago in 1951, celebrating their official charter. In 2017, the club’s 25 members, along with 46,000 other Lions Clubs worldwide, celebrate Lions International 100th Anniversary. The Washago Lions hope that the celebration of Lions International 100th anniversary and the description of some of their accomplishments are inspirational. Jim Rice says that their club welcomes new members of any age or background. He can be reached at wjrice@hotmail.com. Donations to the International Lions Club for any specific international initiative can be made at www.lcif.org. Continued on page 10

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Meet Liz Schamehorn By Ellen Cohen Severn Township is home to many talented artists. One of them is Liz Schamehorn. She is a prolific, multi-medium artist who has worked her entire life to hone her craft. As life goes, her journey has had many peaks and valleys. Full of aspiration, Liz graduated from high school in Toronto knowing that art was her future. She applied to the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), a university in her hometown of Toronto. She was rejected. In her quiet and matter of fact way of speaking with no hint of regret, she said, “I didn’t get into OCAD so I moved to Orillia and married Dan Schamehorn.” At this point in her life, Liz had a happy life living in a lovely community with her family and, in spite of not having the coveted degree from OCAD, art continued to be an important part of her life. “I never gave up on art. I’ve always been an artist and I have always practiced and studied.” In her 40’s, she applied to OCAD again. This time she was accepted – with advanced standing. After so many years, she was going to fulfill an important and life-long ambition. Remarkably, and what surely helped a little to make up for her earlier rejection by OCAD, Liz was accepted into a program that allowed her to study in Florence, Italy for her final year. Living every artist’s dream, she immersed herself in her beloved art. A self-directed program, she was able to set up an easel on the fabled streets and, as she said, capture the brilliant colours of the city in her theme of semi-abstract art. “Florence,” said Liz, “Was a life-changing experience.”

Her return to Canada was a bit of a culture shock. Trying to apply her new technique was tricky, especially in her busy home. Eventually she and Dan had an ‘art bunkie’ built on their property, a place without distraction where Liz could develop her skills, expand her techniques, stay disciplined and finish her projects in solitude and on time. Liz has also been a member of the Peter Street Arts District and she taught at Lakehead University for several years. In the fall of 2015, her life was shattered by a tragedy. Her husband, Dan had a very serious accident and spent many months in Toronto hospitals and at a rehabilitation centre. And, added to what was already an unimaginably stressful time in both Liz and Dan’s lives, their son became ill. Fortunately, their son is now doing well. He lives at home and, along with Liz and professional caregivers, helps to enrich Dan’s life. Dan now gets out and about the community and he has returned to playing bridge, a passion he has enjoyed much of his life. And Liz – well, you’ll find her every Thursday and Saturday afternoon at her leased space at the Washago Hotel on Muskoka Street. Her art – oils, watercolours, and mixed media - is displayed on easels, on the walls, countertops and tables. Her work includes portraits, landscapes and figurebased abstracts. Liz also displays a selection of her up-cycled lamps in the gallery. Liz is now hoping to help expand the community’s exposure to art. Last year’s temporary pop-up gallery, run by members of the Washago Art Club, garnered significant public support for local artists. Because of this, Liz hopes that she can get

Liz Schamehorn, a well-known local artist, at her gallery on Muskoka Street in Washago some interest from local artists to share in her gallery space. If that happens, the gallery could be open all summer, attracting locals, seasonal cottagers and tourists. By midApril, two artists had already committed and Liz asks any local artists interested in this co-op opportunity to call her at 705323-3374. But don’t call her between May 1st and 21st. Through a quirk of fate, Liz is heading back to Florence, the city that has inspired her like no other. Who knows what surprises she’ll offer art lovers when she returns to the gallery. Liz’s gallery is located at 3374 Muskoka St., Washago, open on Thursday and Saturday afternoons. View her art on Facebook: www.facebook.com/schamehornart/

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Ellen Cohen Publisher thevillagerpress@rogers.com 705-717-0322 The Villager, a Severn Township community news magazine, is an independently owned and operated publication delivered to households and businesses on or before the first day of every month. It is mailed through Canada Post north from the Severn Township/Orillia border to Severn Bridge and includes parts of Ramara Township. In addition to Canada Post delivery, The Villager is distributed each month through high traffic locations along the Highway 11 corridor and in many other select locations in Orillia. For a complete list of locations email thevillagerpress@rogers.com. Editorial and advertising material is protected by copyright. Reproduction of any article, photograph or graphic is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher. The sentiments of our columnists do not necessarily reflect those of The Villager. The Villager’s liability to advertisers for errors is limited to the portion of the advertisement in which an error occurs and only if the error is the fault of The Villager. Community event submissions and prearranged editorial contributions must be received by the 10th of each month for the following month’s publication. Advertising space must be booked by the 10th of each month in order to appear in the following month’s publication, with 5 business days thereafter to complete the advertising artwork and proof approval process.

The Villager P.O. Box 5 Washago, ON L0K 2B0

Art director: Cathy Cleary, www.cathycleary.tel

The Friends of the Water Tower committee unveiled the art that will grace the historical tower in Washago. On March 18th, the community voted on the four final submissions. The winner is the above piece, created by John LeBarr. Kathy Nicholson, the chair of the Friends of the Washago Water Tower, says John’s piece has so much charm and is perfect. From the Publisher:

Generosity personified On April 19th, the water tower project committee hosted a fundraising dinner at Brewery Bay in downtown Orillia. Approximately 120 people enjoyed a 4-course meal, live music, door prizes and a silent auction. Steve and Chris Clarke, of Brewery Bay Restaurant, donated all costs - the cost of the meal and the cost of the staff. Every dollar the committee collected for dinner tickets will go to the water tower project. This may be routine to Steve and Chris, going above and beyond for the good of the community. But it’s almost impossible to overstate how meaningful their generosity is to the village of Washago and the surrounding area. And on that note, to all of the volunteers on the water tower project, and all volunteers who give so much in so many ways, all the businesses who donate money and items to good causes, you enrich your community and make it a place in which everyone is proud to live and do business.

Don’t miss out! It’s May – and that can mean only one thing! The season of festivals, outdoor events and yard sales begins. Add Canada’s 150th celebrations to that list, and you will quickly run out of time to see and do everything you want. Start planning now or you’ll miss out on some once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. The Villager will publish as many local events as possible – and this is a shout out to all local organizations to submit details to us by May 12th for the June edition. But to get the flavour about what’s happening in our province and across the country, a search on the following websites will give you more. These websites also update events throughout the month. Ontarioslakecountry.com – this website features festivals and events in the townships of Severn, Oro-Medonte and Ramara, Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and Orillia. Ontario.ca/page/Ontario150 – this site has a button ‘Find out what’s happening near you’ on the home page. Toronto.ca – look for TO Canada with Love. Toronto has a year-long program of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions honouring Canada’s 150th birthday. Ottawa.ca – Ottawa is planning a full calendar of signature events. But if you’re looking for a place to stay in Ottawa in or around the area on July 1st, even a campsite, almost everything has been booked for a year. Letters to the publisher are welcome and may be emailed to thevillagerpress@rogers.com. Letters may be edited.

Passport to Nature kicks off with an ode to an icon By Mark Bisset The maple leaf. It’s the shorthand for Canada. For the nation we have become and the nation we aspire to be. It appears on the shoulder patches of Canadian soldiers in far corners of the world and on the logo of The Couchiching Conservancy. It’s on the tails of cutting-edge passenger jets and on the backpacks of hikers. And it adorns big league hockey sweaters as well as sweaters knit by loving grandmothers. So it seemed like the subject of maple trees was a good place to start our third annual Passport to Nature program. On April 22 at Grant’s Woods, naturalist Dave Hawke will lead two hikes through the forest to talk maples: sugar maple, hard maple, soft maple, red maple, silver maple Freeman’s maple, Norway maple -- you name it. Dave will show you how to identify these different trees, and explain where they fit in our diverse environment. You’ll learn about sap flow and spring renewal, all in the setting of one of the most beautiful forests in the region. Dave is running two hikes: one at 10:30 a.m. and one a 1:30 p.m. The second event of the season will take place at the Thomas C. Agnew Nature reserve just outside of Washago. It’s a chance to spend some quality time with award-winning nature photographer Arni Stinnisson. If you’re a budding nature photographer, this is a great opportunity to up your game, learning secrets like the ability to blur a background to make the main subject stand out, and understanding lighting and exposure. All you need is a camera, a tripod, sturdy shoes and a certain tolerance for bugs. It’s scheduled for May 27th after all. The activity starts at 8:00 a.m. and runs until noon. The event is a go, rain or shine. Hanging out with naturalists, you’ve got to follow the adage that there’s no such thing as bad weather; only bad clothing.

Passport to Nature offers a window on the wilds of the region including guided hikes, canoe trips, photography and astronomy outings and more. Information and registration at www.couchichingconserv.ca. The April 22nd and May 27th events are just two of what The Couchiching Conservancy’s Passport to Nature will offer this year. This festival features events every month in different parts of the region - from canoeing to birding, to diving into the weird world of lichens, to hiking the wilds of the Canadian Shield, Passport to Nature is a ticket to explore your wild neighbourhood. And, thanks to the generous community sponsors who support it, it’s free to attend. Please note that although the Passport to Nature events are free, most require registration and I’d suggest you register early since they have been regularly booked to capacity in past years. So go to www.couchichingconserv.ca and have a look at our offerings. You’re sure to find something that opens your eyes to the beauty around you. Mark Bisset is the Executive Director of The Couchiching Conservancy, a non-profit, charitable land trust which has helped protect more than 12,000 acres in the Lake Couchiching region since 1993 with the help of members, volunteers and supporters. For more information, go to www.couchichingconserv.ca

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Activities begin at 8:00 a.m. with a fabulous Pancake Breakfast at the Lions Hall on Hamilton Street.

Great Food

Don’t miss anything on Canada Day!

Rotary Peameal on a Bun; St. Francis Church Luncheon; United Church Famous Strawberry Shortcake; Lions Hall BBQ

Take a stroll along Muskoka & Hamilton Streets.

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CANADA DAY PARADE at 2:00 p.m.  Followed by more CANADA 150 activities 

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

If you are over 14 years of age and can offer 4 hours of volunteer time on July 1st, please email

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More improvements to parks and rec facilities By Pat Harwood, Recreation Coordinator The Culture and Recreation Department is very busy this spring. Washago The Washago Water Fountain project will soon begin. This project involves an aerator and water display feature to keep the water moving so that postings hopefully will be eliminated. This project is funded in part through the generosity of the Rotary Club of Washago and Area. Marchmont Community Park and Bass Lake Woodlands Park Both of these parks will have the sand removed from underneath the playgrounds and swings, and engineered wood fibres will be added to improve safety. Ball Diamonds This year township ball diamonds will be groomed with our new grooming machine. It tears up, scarifies, rolls and sweeps the ball diamond material all at the same time. Better diamonds – better play! Coldwater & District Community Centre This summer we welcome the South Simcoe Rebel Rollers to the facility. See them in action on Thursdays from 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Coldwater Youth Ball Hockey is every Tuesday night, with Pickleball every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Coldwater Skate Park It’s another season of tricks on the skate park. Join in the fun. Helmets must be worn. Maybe a competition this year? Trails The Uhthoff Trail awaits approval on a Trails Connecting Communities Grant from the County of Simcoe to work on the trail from Thorburn Road to Uhthoff Line. Ditching, additional gravel and new trail markers will be in the works. Recreation Programs Check out our website for updated information on programs throughout the Township. Spring session is in full swing with the summer line-up announced soon.

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If you have any recreation issues or concerns please call the township offices at 705-325-2315, ext.253. Visit us at www.townshipofsevern.com.

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Big news for snapping turtles By Ron Reid

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of people who understand and value turtles, and who will pull off the roadway to help a Snapper on her way. This can be a bit daunting at first because Snapping Turtles are not able to tuck in their heads like other turtles, and they put up an impressive display of hissing and snapping to scare off anything that comes too close.

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This spring brought welcome news for Ontario’s largest turtle. At long last the Ministry of Natural Resources has terminated the legal hunting of Snapping Turtles. Even though this species was formally designated “at risk” in 2008, people were allowed the kill two Snapping Turtles per day. Finally, after overwhelming public pressure, that has been stopped. Scientists have been saying for years that even a small hunt for this species is not sustainable. Like other turtles, Snappers have a long life span and a very low reproductive rate, so removing even a few adult females can cause a rapid decline in their populations. In fact, Snapping Turtles are even slower to reproduce than humans. Female Snappers don’t begin to lay eggs until they are about 20 years of age, and that big female turtle you see on the side of the road may well be over 70, with some individuals known to live for a century! These turtles bury their annual clutch of 40 eggs in sand or gravel in late spring, but the great majority of these nests are sniffed out and dug up by raccoons, skunks and foxes. When the tiny nestlings emerge in the fall, they face another round of predation before they find their way to the shelter of shallow water. Once they reach adulthood, Snapping Turtles in a natural setting have few enemies that can pierce their thick shells. But wherever there are roads, their need to leave their marshy habitats to find sandy nesting spots creates big problems for turtles. Spotting a turtle on a roadway is not difficult, and most of the time it is easy to avoid hitting them. But there is a certain element of the human population, primarily young men but some older ones too, who feel compelled to aim their trucks to crush these ancient creatures beneath their tires. I must admit that I find this incomprehensible. Apparently if a tavern paints a small star inside the urinals in their washrooms, many men will aim for that spot – perhaps it is the same urge, equally idiotic, that makes them want to hit turtles. Fortunately, there are growing numbers

Hunting this “at risk” turtle is now illegal. Don’t attempt to pick up a Snapping Turtle by the sides of its shell, and never pull them by the tail, since that causes injuries to their spine. The proper technique is fairly simple. Make sure you move the turtle in the direction it was headed. It is safe to lift the turtle by grasping the rear of its shell. If it is large, lift its hind end and slide the turtle backwards. Or you can use a car mat to help slide the turtle. I keep a shovel in the trunk to slide turtles off the road, which keeps my hands clean in the process. With your help, rescuing Snapping Turtles off roads, and the new ban on hunting, the future looks brighter for this species at risk. A regular contributor to The Villager, Ron Reid is a natural heritage consultant and the co-founder and former executive director of The Couchiching Conservancy. He has written more than 30 magazine articles and co-authored three books. He lives in Washago with his wife, Janet Grand.

Growing great tomatoes By Karen Kahle Is it ever too early to be thinking about your tomato plants? No – especially if you’re the competitive tomato gardening type who wants the earliest and the sweetest tomatoes on the block. To ensure your bragging rights this year, consider planting several different varieties, those that will give you tomatoes from early to late summer, and follow these timetested tomato growing tips. Bury Them Plant your tomato plants deeper than they come in the pot, all the way up to the top few leaves. When planted this way, tomatoes are able to develop roots all along their stems. More roots will make for a stronger plant. You can either dig a deep hole or simply dig a shallow trench and lay the plant sideways. It will quickly straighten itself up and grow toward the sun. A YouTube search can show you exactly how to do this. Pinch and Prune for More Tomatoes Pinch and remove suckers that develop in the crotch joint of two branches. Suckers

won’t bear fruit and will take energy away from the rest of the plant. But go easy on pruning the rest of the plant. Thinning a few leaves to allow sun to ripening fruit is fine. Water the Tomatoes Plants Regularly Water deeply and regularly while the fruits are developing. Ensure your plants get at least 1 inch of water per week. During hot, dry spells, they may need more. If your plants start to look wilted for most of the day, give them a drink. Once the fruit begins to ripen, you can ease up on watering. Use your judgment. Don’t withhold water so much that the plants continually wilt and become stressed or they will drop their blossoms and possibly their fruit. Remove the Bottom Leaves Once your tomato plants reach about 3 ft. tall, remove the leaves from the bottom 1’ of the stem. These are the oldest leaves and © Can Stock Photo / Vaivirga they are usually the first leaves to develop Follow a few tomato growing tips and be the fungus problems. envy of your neighbours. Karen Kahle, professional gardener and proprietor of Fern Forest Garden & Greenhouse, has served Severn Township and area for over 10 years. www.fernforest.ca.

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Washago Lions dedicated to service The Washago Lions Club has 25 members, men and women of all ages. Each of the members has their own reasons for being involved in the Lions Club. Here are three examples: Paula McFadden – lives in Bayou Park and has been a member for 5 years. She says her brother convinced her to join Lions in Washago and says the community work the club does gives her a good feeling. “I have fun helping with our local events. The members of our club are great and Lions does things quietly – no fuss, no muss. We just get it done.” Andy Stothers – has been a member of Lions in Washago for 15 years. Asked why he is a Lion, he said, “I do this for the kids, especially for the support of the local Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, almost 50 of them.” Andy also supports the Lions International initiative to help those This official banner hangs proudly with sight issues. Called the “Muskoka in the Washago Lions Hall on Knights”, Andy collected 1,000 Hamilton Street in Washago, pairs of eye glasses last year. Those Ontario. glasses, through Lions International, were sent to 3rd world countries.

Donations can be made to Lions by dropping off extra/used eyewear to Ben’s Pharmacy in Washago. Ron Sprang - the member with the most service at 58 years, Ron became a member in 1959 in Erindale/ Mississauga in the GTA. Although he built a home in this area 36 years ago, it was only 5 years ago that he moved here full-time and joined the Washago club. From the beginning of Ron’s service with Lions, he

understood how important the work was to his community and to the world. He was especially impressed with the sponsorship of kids’ sports clubs and helping the blind. Ron said he was happy to get involved from the start. That hasn’t changed over the years. He enjoys the community involvement, the casual and friendly atmosphere of the Lions Club, and meeting and getting to know people of all ages and backgrounds.

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Federal budget 2017 highlights By Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton On March 22nd, the federal government released its 2017 budget. Although there was little new spending, much of that spending is pushed ahead into the future. For instance, the government has committed to spending $20.1 billion over 11 years for transit, but there is very little of it allocated for 2016-17 or 2017-18. The deficit for 2016-17 increased from $25.4 billion in last fall’s Economic Update to $28.5 billion. In total, the plan the government has outlined adds $148 billion to Canada’s debt over the next 6 years, and does not balance the budget in the foreseeable future. Some of the highlights include: • $7 billion over 10 years for child care. • $2.7 billion over 6 years for skills training. • $950 million over 5 years for innovation through business-led superclusters. • $3.4 billion over 5 years for First Nations education, health and infrastructure.

• A new caregiver benefit through Employment Insurance that offers up to 15 weeks of leave to care for an ill or incapacitated family member who is expected to make a full or partial recovery. Families caring for a family member who has a significant risk of dying can apply for the Compassionate Care Benefit through EI. • Offering the option to take 18 months of maternity leave through Employment Insurance, at a reduced rate of 33% of average weekly earnings, instead of the current 12 months at 55%. • Allowing expectant mothers to access maternity benefits up to 12 weeks before their due date, up from the current 8 weeks. • New, income-tested Canada Caregiver Tax Credit, maximum credit of $6,883. Aside from the increasing debt, one area of particular concern to me is the government’s decision to push back planned military spending by $8.48 billion

until 2035-36. There may be practical reasons for this, but at a time when significant investments are needed in new ships, aircraft, vehicles and other equipment, and when North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members being urged to meet the 2% defence spending target. We are currently less than 1%, the decision to push so much spending off decades into the future may leave the Canadian Forces less able to fulfill the important missions we expect of them. You can get more information on the 2017 Federal Budget at www.budget.gc.ca.

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Carbon Monoxide poster contest 2017 By Dianne Kyle, Fire Prevention Officer, Severn Township Laurie Hawkins, her husband Richard, and due to a blocked chimney vent which forced their two children Cassandra and Jordan all carbon monoxide from their gas fireplace died from CO poisoning in December 2008 back into their home. The Hawkins-Gignac charitable foundation was formed to honor their memory. This foundation promotes carbon monoxide education and raises funds to purchase CO alarms to be given to at-risk families by fire departments nationwide. Severn Fire & Emergency Services, Fire Prevention Division received a donation of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms from the Hawkins-Gignac Foundation to assist in public education and protection of the families in the community. The first event to utilize these alarms was to promote education within our youth by arranging a poster contest for all Severn Schools. Congratulations to Katie Harlow a Marchmont Public School, Grade 5 student and Kelli Armstrong, from Severn Shores Public School, Grade 6. Poster contest winner Kelli Armstrong, Severn Poster contest winner Katie Harlow (right), Shores Public School Marchmont Public School

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Township update Ward 4 recreation centre news Residents in Severn Township will have to wait a little longer before the Ward 4 Westshore recreation centre is built. Last October, the township confirmed the facility location as 3793 Menoke Beach Road, land donated by a builder; the architect firm of Chamberlain Architect Services Limited was awarded the project; and the features regarding what the building would include had been determined. Construction, it was hoped, would start this spring. When the project was first considered, the cost was thought to be in the $2 million range. The township has confirmed that the price will likely be closer to $7 million. Because of the new projected cost, at the mid-April meeting council made a decision to take a step back and asked staff to present a comprehensive report that would let them make a final decision. Staff presented this to council on April 26th. The next step is to put the project out to tender. Once tenders are in, council will make final decisions.

“Unfortunately, when we first looked at a (projected) cost we were comparing it to what we paid for the Washago Community Centre, a $2 million project. That was some time ago. The Westshore project is proposed to be 19,000 square feet, four times the size of the centre in Washago,” said Mayor Mike Burkett. “The size of the new centre reflects current and projected population growth in the area.” Expectations are that 1,500 new homes will be built over the next 10-20 years. That number of new homes could represent a 30+% growth in Severn Township’s population. Regarding the likely $7 million price tag for the new recreation centre, Mike said the township has the money. Township financial experts will determine what township accounts the money will come from and those details will be worked out before the shovel goes in the ground. “We’ll be prudent,” Mike said, “but we’ll move as quickly as possible. We know for sure that building costs will only increase the longer we wait.”

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Washago Community Centre Events GARAGE & CRAFT SALE May 20, 8 a.m. – noon. Call 689-6424 to reserve a table for $10. Hot dogs and pop available. SUMMER DAY CAMP July 3 – August 25. Call 689-6424 for information and to register. LINE DANCING 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. No pre-registration required. $2/session. For further information on the above, or to rent our hall for your special celebration, call 705-689-6424.

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Beer, art, a new member and our annual raffle… By Christoper Carmen, Past-President Thank you Washago! On March 25th we hosted our second annual Kegs and Corks craft beer and wine tasting and more than 200 patrons attended. Beer, cider and wine were supplied by Heritage Estate Cidery, Sawdust City Brewing Co., Muskoka Lakes Winery, Highlander Brew Co., Sidelaunch Brewery. The delicious pub and cottage finger foods came from our friends at R’Cottage! The atmosphere was incredible. To see for yourself, visit our Facebook page where we have a time lapse of the evening. The generous sponsorship from our vendors and the support of our patrons resulted in over $2800 that will be used for Rotary projects. Congratulations to John Lebarr who won the Water Tower Art contest on March 18th! Thank-you Washago and area residents for coming out and casting almost 400 ballots and thank-you to the Friends of the Water Tower committee for inviting us to hold this contest. We look forward to seeing John’s beautiful artwork displayed proudly as our new water tower façade. Thanks to everyone who submitted artwork. It was a close contest and it was a pleasure to showcase Washago’s artists. There are several milestones in life that are truly life altering. We tend go through life so focused on career but at some point we realize that we must give back to society, to our community. We believe that joining Rotary is one of those life altering moments and in April we were honoured to induct Dan Gavin as a new member of The Rotary Club of Washago and Area Centennial. Dan is the owner of Gavin’s Grub, Washago and a sales representative at Re/Max Orillia. He has already made great contributions to our community and we are proud to have inducted him as a member in our club. Lastly, our annual raffle is on again! Muskoka Paddle Shack has generously donated a 16’ Alchemist Canoe. The grand prize also includes 2 life jackets and 2 paddles. The draw will be held on Labour Day weekend, a perfect way to close out the summer. Tickets will be available starting at our Wild game dinner. They will also be available and at our Canada Day Bacon on a Bun event, as well as from any of our club members. Tickets are $5 each. Like us on Facebook at Rotary Club of Washago & Area-Centennial for updates on ticket outlets.

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Homes Tour June 4th With files submitted by Canadian Federation of University Women Orillia On June 4th, from noon – 5:00 p.m., the Canadian Federation of University Women Orillia (CFUW), will host “Opening Doors to Learning”, an annual Homes Tour that raises scholarship funds for post-secondary students attending Orillia high schools. To recognize the 150th birthday of Canada and the City of Orillia, homes being showcased will reflect the past and the present, showcasing two homes in Orillia, two in Severn, and one in OroMedonte. The $25 cost of the tour passport includes a traditional tea at the historic Fern Resort. Tea will be served between 1:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Buy your tickets at: Simply Special Originals, Washago; or in Orillia at Laclie Guardian Pharmacy, Beauty Supply Outlet, The Kitchen Shop, Mariposa Seasons Shop, Street’s Flowers, and Thimbles & Things. Scholarship dollars are also raised through raffle ticket sales. Those tickets are available from CFUW members; the CFUW Garage Sale at ODAS Park on May 6; and on May 13th and 20th at Fairgrounds Farmer’s Market at ODAS Park and Downtown Orillia Farmers’ Market. For further information, call Roline at 705-327-0327 or email george.roline@rogers.com. View all five homes on the tour at

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Good people, good food, good times By Marylynne White, President Our meetings always include fun and much socializing. However, in April we ramped it up a notch. Members were asked to mingle and chat with other members that they did not know as well. This opportunity provided a chance to learn new and interesting things about each other. It was agreed this idea should be implemented a few times each year. This meeting also included a luncheon. Washago St. Francis Quilters provided the delicious lunch. Deep dish chicken pie, hot veggies, salad and a berry dessert. Really good!! At our birthday meeting we enjoyed a presentation by our guest speaker, Sherry Lawson. She shared wonderful stories of her life experiences. Thank you kindly, Sherry. Just a reminder: members and non- members are welcome to bowl at Orillia Bowl on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. The cost is $9 for two games. We continue at each meeting to have our “Move on Up” time set to really great music. As we get older, it is important to exercise on a regular basis. Moving to music can be one of the best ways! We also welcomed back many of our members from warm and sunny spots. Good to have you back. Happy spring.

Join the celebration in Ward 3 June 24th at ODAS PARK

All five Severn wards will be celebrating Canada’s 150th. Ward 5 celebrates on July 1st and other wards will announce plans as they become confirmed. On behalf of Ward 3 residents, Councillor John Betsworth wants everyone to know that their celebration will take place on Saturday, June 24th from noon – 4:00 p.m. “Everyone is invited to celebrate with us. We’re organizing a family-style event that will include free food, free roller skating, contests and challenges, and lots of surprises,” Councillor Betsworth said. The event will take place at ODAS Park on Fairgrounds Road. More details will be announced in the June issue of The Villager.

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Ontario PC’s budget item requests By Patrick Brown, Simcoe North MPP and Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario In the middle of April, I wrote a letter to Finance Minister Charles Sousa to share the Ontario PC Caucus’ requests for inclusions in the upcoming budget. I wanted to take the opportunity to share those requests with you. First, the Ontario PC Caucus would like to see action taken to pay down Ontario’s growing debt. Ontario’s debt is growing faster than our economy and we feel it is crowding out the services we all depend on, like health care and education. Next, the PC Caucus asked Mr. Sousa to take action and address the root cause of Ontario’s hydro crisis. Seniors, families, businesses, and public institutions are faced with unaffordable hydro rates. We are requesting that the upcoming provincial budget include halting the signing of new energy contracts for excess power; the dismantling of the Green Energy Act; stopping the sale of Hydro One; and the reining in of executive compensation in the energy sector.

The Ontario PC Caucus is also calling on the government to make cap-and-trade revenue neutral meaning we believe every dollar generated should go back into the pockets of Ontarians through tax relief. We also asked for solutions to the challenges many Ontario families face as regards home ownership. The PC Caucus would like to see evidencebased measures to address both supply and demand, the establishment of a panel of industry experts, and a review of the government housing portfolio. Our final budget request was to ask for a plan to save our community schools. Across the province there are many examples of school closures, including a number of which happened in our own community. We asked for a budget item that would see an immediate moratorium on school closures, and a review of what we believe is the flawed Pupil Accommodation Review Guidelines that determine these closures.

Please contact my office with your thoughts about our budget requests or for any other assistance: Patrick.brownco@pc.ola.org.

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Cowboy cheesesteak hoagies with handmade chips and garlic chive aioli By Chef Becky Proprietor of Black River Food Company and a teacher in our region for Loblaw Companies Limited.

• 4 cowboy steaks grilled to medium rare, cooled and sliced on thin diagonals • 4 hoagie rolls, sliced and lightly buttered • 2 cups of shredded mixed cheeses of your choice - sharp Ontario cheddar, Havarti, or Swiss • 1 red onion, sliced • Half of a red, green and yellow pepper, seeded and sliced into 1/4 inch strips • 2 cups of sliced cremini mushrooms • Canola oil • 4 local or P.E.I. russet potatoes • Sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste • 4 cloves peeled and minced garlic • ¼ cup of ¼ inch chives • ½ cup of your favourite mayo • Hot peppers and dill slices for garnish

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Handmade Chips In a large heavy saucepan, bring 2 cups of canola oil to 350 degrees. Cutting potatoes: place horizontally on the cutting board and slice rounds as thinly as possible. Blot dry with paper towel. Season with sea salt and slowly lower chips into the hot oil. Remove when crisp and golden. Drain on paper towel and place on plate Aioli - make a day ahead if you wish. Combine the other half of minced garlic and with sandwiches and aioli. Drizzle with malt chives with mayo. Cover and refrigerate. vinegar or balsamic if desired. The longer it sits in fridge the more flavour Hot peppers and pickles to garnish. Enjoy the playoffs. it develops. T urn oven to broil and toast the hoagie buns until lightly browned. Remove from oven and fill one half of bun with steak and veg mixture, the other with the cheese mixture. Broil until cheese melts. Remove from oven. Makes 4 sandwiches.

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Our valued members By Estelle Ness, Lioness President

The snow has finally disappeared and spring has arrived and the BBQ’s have been started. Friendships have been renewed, including at our first Court Whist card party of the year. The second one is being planned, Canada Day celebrations are underway and we are still welcoming new members. As we’ve done in the last two months in The Villager, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce three more of our Lioness to you. Vicki Francis: Vicki arrived in Washago in 1992 from Toronto. She immediately joined the Lioness Club. Vicki has received her 25 year pin and is a life member. Vicki is 79 years young and has served as secretary of our club. She can always be seen cooking, baking or crocheting gifts for our various functions. Donna Duck: Donna moved to Washago in 1989 from Albion Hills and joined the Lioness in 1990. She has served as President, received her 25 year pin, and is a life member. Some of you may remember Donna from

her 13 years of service in the Zehr’s bakery. Donna is celebrating her 74th birthday and is one of our younger members. Arthemise Lalonde: Arthemise is 92 years young. After many years of teaching children, she moved to Washago to raise her large family. The family had many locations they called home but their final spot before Washago was Goderich. Arthemise has 13 years with our Lioness and is known as the ‘craft lady’. Our final three Lioness will be featured in the June addition.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR JUNE 24 Severn’s Ward 3 celebrates Canada 150 from noon – 4:00 p.m. A family friendly event. All are welcome. ODAS Park. More details to follow. JULY 1 Severn’s Ward 5 celebrates Canada 150 from morning till night. More details on page 6 of this issue of The Villager. All are welcome. AUGUST 26 Three events in Downtown Orillia: 2nd Annual Food Festival at the Downtown Farmers’ Market; Starry Night, a studio and gallery tour.

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Until May 13 Orillia Perch Festival, one of Canada’s largest registered fishing derbies. Great prizes, adult/children categories. Tudhope Park, Orillia. Information at orillia.com or call 705-326-4424. May 1 Meat Pie Lunch, including beverage and dessert. Prepared by the Severn Bridge Women’s Institute. 12 Noon. $8. Severn Bridge Community Hall, 1035 Southwood Rd. Severn Bridge. For Hall Rentals information, call Fern at 705-687-4462. May 2 Washago Garden Club, AGM and pot luck dinner. 5:30 p.m., Lake St. George Community Centre. Members and others are welcome. Show up with your favourite dish! May 6 Coldwater United Church Spring Luncheon. Join us from 11:00 a.m. – noon. Silent auction with local business and artisan donated items. May 6, 13, 20, 27 Tap Into Maple - Deluxe Pancake Breakfast from 9 am to noon. Served

in Historic Heritage Homestead on Fine China. $10 pp. Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum, 1474 Woodrow Road, Coldwater. coldwatermuseum.com May 13 Art from the Attic, Orillia Grandmothers to Grandmothers - giant one-day sale of bargainpriced donated art. Prints, paintings, posters, silk screens and frames. All priced to sell quickly. St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 99 Peter St. N., Orillia, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. May 13 Tap Into Maple -Treat Mom to a Special Mother’s Day Devon Tea from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. A complimentary maple tart will sweeten her day. $10 pp. Coldwater Canadiana Heritage Museum, 1474 Woodrow Road, Coldwater. coldwatermuseum.com May 17 Dougie’s Jam at the Lions Hall on Hamilton Street in Washago. From 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Bring friends. Play, sing, dance. Jam every 3rd Wednesday.

May 21 Orillia Comic Com, over 100 exhibitors on this inaugural comic convention. Comic books, magazines, toys, games, movies and much more. 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Barnfield Point Recreation Centre, 500 Atherley Rd., Orillia. May 27 Huge outdoor yard sale from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Ramona Hall at 2212 Fairgrounds Rd. just outside of Washago. Food available. Want

to sell your goods? Call to reserve a spot: Tera 705-689-2571 or Eileen 705-689-6101. June 2/3 Quilt Show & Sale, a very special event celebrating the craft of quilting. Huge display, artfully showcased on church pews at Westmount Congregation, United Church of Canada, 23 Westmount Dr. S., Orillia. June 2nd, 4-8 p.m.; June 3rd, 9 am-4 pm. Admission $6. Free parking.

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