the
Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 17
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.05% 3 Year GIC - 2.20% 5 Year GIC - 2.50% Daily Interest 1.55%
Friday, April 26, 2013
Junior Farmers cook up successful Spaghetti Dinner despite ice storm DRAYTON The Wellington Junior Farmers had been planning their 6th annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser for local food banks for a couple of months when the power went out due to a major ice storm on April 12. After realizing the power may not be restored in Drayton until after the April 14 event, the group had to start compiling other ideas. “Could we hook up a generator? Could we work out of a camping trailer? Would we have to reschedule this event? Could we find another location?� These were all questions that came to mind for organizers Kristina Signer and Jen van der Meulen. However, in the end, they decided no matter what, this event had to go on, and started the planning process in case there was no power. “Late Saturday night I received a call from a friend in Drayton wondering if the Spaghetti Dinner was still happening, and as I was about to answer they said, ‘never mind the power has just come back on in Drayton.’ Needless to say I was thrilled,� explained van der Meulen. “However, when I drove through Drayton that night, I
Doing their part - Junior Farmers from other clubs, including Dufferin, Waterloo and Renfrew counties and the University of Guelph, stopped by for a meal in support of the Wellington County Junior Farmers’ April 14 Spaghetti Supper in Drayton.
submitted photo
Stocking up for food banks - Wellington Junior Farmer members show off the donations they received for food banks in Drayton and Palmerston at a Spaghetti Supper hosted by the club on April 14. From left: Krystal Boggerman, Ben Boogerman, Jonathan Clyne, Mike Cooks, Carissa Tavares, Kate McKenzie, Derek Bruder, Alex Noble, Jen van der Meulen, Elbert Bouwman, Ryan Schill and Jason Schill. submitted photo
saw a completely different picture. There seemed to only be sections of streets with lights on in people’s homes, and the friend I spoke to lived on the other end of town from our location. “I took a drive down Elm Street and thankfully the lights were on at the Agricultural Hall. The event would go on as planned.�
The Spaghetti Dinner has been an annual event since Junior Farmers was revitalized in Wellington County in 2008. The group’s numbers had been down for the past couple of years, but this year the fundraiser was a huge success. The group fed 87 people on April 14, and raised just over $630, plus non perishable food items to donate to the Drayton
and Palmerston food banks. The club will be contributing an additional $70 to the donation, so each food bank will receive $350. When Signer was asked what her favourite part about the Spaghetti Dinner was, she responded by saying, “I love that our club can do this simple dinner and make a big impact on our community.�
Songs of Sinatra opens season at Drayton Festival Theatre DRAYTON – Drayton Festival Theatre opens its doors and raises the curtain on its 2013 season with The Songs of Sinatra, an unforgettable tribute to The Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra. Playing eight shows a week May 8 through June 1, officials
say this production will be a real treat for Sinatra fans. The Songs of Sinatra features the incredible talents of The Sinatra Seven, a group of tuxedo-clad young crooners, who captivate audiences with their renditions “Ol’ Blue Eyes’� greatest hits.
“The Sinatra Seven take the music of an icon and make it accessible so that it has crossgenerational appeal,� said Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment. “Older Sinatra fans will love the music and enjoy a trip down memory lane. And
there’s no denying that the younger set will love the boy band appeal of our seven dapper crooners.� Director and set designer David Rogers is one of Canada’s leading theatre talents. His body of work speaks Continued on page 3
Papenburg faces challenge for local NDP nomination PERTH-WELLINGTON - For the first time in a number of years, Perth-Wellington New Democrats will have a choice for their candidate in the next provincial election. Past candidate Ellen Papenburg and newcomer Romayne Smith Fullerton have both announced their intention to seek the nomination to become the party’s standard bearer in the riding. “I think the fact that we are having a competition for the position, particularly among two very accomplished and successful women, is not only good for democracy but also demonstrates a growing interest in the New Democratic Party in Perth-Wellington and its potential in the next provincial campaign,� said Jack Verhulst, president of the local NDP riding association.
Papenburg was the riding’s candidate in the 2011 federal and provincial general elections, during which the number of NDP votes significantly increased in Perth-Wellington. She finished second in the federal election, which was a first for the party in the riding, and substantially increased the NDP’s share of votes cast in the riding during the last provincial election. Papenburg is a computer consultant and small business owner as well as a Lay Chaplain. She has lived in Drayton for the past 20 years with her husband and family. She is president of the Drayton Rotary Club, past president of the Elora-Fergus Unitarian Church and past president of Unicamp, a conference centre and camp for children and families in
Main St. W. Palmerston
Olympus Has Fallen Rated 14A 120 minutes long
SHOWTIMES: Friday and Saturday 8pm and Sunday 7pm
For more info call 519-343-3640 or visit www.norgantheatre.com
Shelburne. Romayne Smith Fullerton is an associate professor of journalism and media studies at the University of Western Ontario. She teaches journalism ethics and media coverage of women’s rights and the struggle of marginalized people. Within the past year, she has appeared a number of times on TVO’s program The Agenda and CBC Radio’s The Current to discuss topical political and social issues from a media perspective. Smith Fullerton lives on a farm on the Thames River with her husband and son. She is a community and environmental activist and currently is spokesperson for the Friends of the Transvaal, a group of local citizens dedicated to protecting the Thames River, its valley, natural areas and prime agri-
cultural land from a proposed large, open gravel pit. A sold out meet-thecandidates and fundraising dinner, also attended by London-Fanshawe MP Irene Mathyssen, was held on April 21 at Damen’s Restaurant in St. Marys. “The response to the first of what will be a number of meet-the-candidates events for all progressives in PerthWellington was very positive as we had both party and nonparty members attend,� said Verhulst. Entertainment at the event was provided by popular performers Barb Fulton and Paul Shilton as well as author and performer Alison Wearing and singer songwriter Jarmo Jalava, who is also director of ecosystem recovery for the Carolinian Canada Coalition.
Weekly Wagnt a
e to pla The best tim ears ago. tree was 20 y . t time is now The next bes verb - Chinese pro
President Elbert Bouwman also responded by saying, “I was very excited to see how many people we had out this year; it was great to see the community come together to help those less fortunate.� The Wellington Junior Farmers thanked their sponsors: Drayton Food Market, LM Palmerston, Gay Lea, Imperial Foods, Blooming Dales, Delmare Quality Foods Inc., and the Drayton Agriculture Society, noting the event would not be possible without their help. “We would also like to thank our community and fellow Junior Farmer friends from
across the province for attending, and supporting our local food banks,� organizers stated. Join the club Junior Farmers consists of people aged 15 to 29 from all occupations and walks of life. Members are people looking for fun, new challenges and an opportunity to be involved. Junior Farmers is the only self-directed youth program in Ontario and strives to build future rural leaders through self help and community betterment. Anyone interested in finding out more or joining the Wellington Junior Farmers can email wellingtonjf@jfao.on.ca.
Company plans fibre network for Drayton MILVERTON, - Mornington Communications Co-operative Ltd. has announced plans to provide telecommunications services in Drayton. Previously the company brought fibre networks to Atwood, Monkton, Gadshill and is currently deploying a network in Milverton. Construction is set to begin in May with the goal to have the first customers connected in August. The entire Drayton project is expected to be completed by November. “With this advanced network, Mornington will now be able to offer all of our telecommunications solutions in Drayton, including internet with
download speeds up to 100 Mbps, over 250 digital television stations, and crystal clear home phone service,� states an April 16 press release from the company. “We’re excited, this is the largest project we have ever undertaken. The research we conducted we have found there is a real need for better services in Drayton, which Mornington can deliver,� said Rick Banks, general manager. Mornington is an independent telephone company serving customers in the 595 exchange since 1919. In recent years this service area has expanded to reach customers in Stratford, Monkton, Atwood, and Elmira, among others.
Tree Day in Mapleton April 27 MAPLETON The Township of Mapleton will again be offering a “Tree Day� with free tree seedlings made available to local residents. Property owners can preorder up to a maximum of 50 trees, subject to availability. Pre-ordered trees will be available for pick up on April 27
at the Township of Mapleton public works building located at 7275 Sideroad 16, outside of Drayton, between 8 and 10am Donations to the food bank would be appreciated. To place an order, contact the Township of Mapleton municipal office at 519-6383313.
'5$<7216725$*( FRP ,QGLYLGXDO 6WRUDJH 8QLWV Individual Storage Units [ [ [ [ 5x10 10x10 10x15 10x20 6HDVRQDO ERDWV FDUV 59V ODZQ WUDFWRUV Seasonal VXPPHU ZLQWHU WLUH VWRUDJH boats, cars, RVs, lawn tractors, summer/winter tire storage