In Memoriam
- theHumm March 2020

In Memoriam
- theHumm March 2020

By Kris Riendeau

Shaun McLaughlin Former Mayor of Mississippi Mills

In his “County Curmudgeon” column that ran in the December 2002 issue of theHumm, Shaun McLaughlin wrote: “‘Fight the good fight’ is a phrase that says so much in a few words. To the Curmudgeon it means you fight for an ideal even when you know you may lose, because, by not fighting, you stand to lose more.”

To me, Shaun McLaughlin was an idealist, a fighter, a friend and a curmudgeon — someone who stepped up and gave his best in pursuit or defense of what he believed to be important, and who let people know when he thought they should do the same. For several years he contributed a regular (and feisty) column to theHumm that took both residents and local politicians to task on a variety of issues. From 2010 to 2014, he served a term as a Ramsay councillor, and then from 2014 to 2018 as Mayor of Mississippi Mills — stepping up and personally fighting the good fight on the front lines.

Shaun did not write for theHumm during his terms in office, but he began contributing again in late 2018 when he became the ambassador of the Great Veggie Grow Off — a program that encourages people to contribute fresh produce to local food banks. As councillor, Mayor and friend, he was always tremendously supportive of both theHumm and the local arts and culture scene.

In mid-February, while vacationing abroad, Shaun McLaughlin passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. I am among the many residents of Mississippi Mills to be shocked and extremely saddened by his death, and I extend my deepest condolences to his family and close friends. His passing leaves us bereft, but his legacy leaves us inspired.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Shaun’s life at a gathering at the Almonte Old Town Hall on Sunday, March 15 from 11am to 2pm.

 

The Magical Imagination of Mária Moldován - theHumm March 2020

By Sally Hansen

Art… and Soul

The mere mention of Transylvania anywhere in the Anglosphere immediately conjures up the occult adventures of Dracula. Having never met anyone from Transylvania before, your intrepid arts reporter was both mesmerized and intimidated by my utter lack of knowledge of the background of this month’s featured artist from Arnprior.

Mária Moldován’s astonishing art is as unfamiliar as her background — and just as fascinating. This accomplished and multi-talented artist weaves he......

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Maple Marches into the Valley! - theHumm March 2020

By Sarah Kerr

March! I can’t believe it! We’ve made it through the darkness and are heading to the light — with longer days and spring just around the corner. I find March is a favourite month of mine, not just because it’s my birthday month, but it’s also Nowruz (Persian New Year on spring equinox) marking a new year, a fresh start, spring!

I love planning March with kids because its full of maple goodness; there’s still snow but lots of sunshine to get the sap running. The beginning of the agricultural seaso......

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The Ten Collective
Third Annual Exhibit of Paintings
- theHumm March 2020

In April 2018, ten Mississippi Mills artists held their first show, expecting 500 people to visit. By the end of the two-day exhibit, more than 1,200 had attended the show and visited the town. In 2019 attendance increased to 1,600. Visitors came from Mississippi Mills, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto. The artists were overwhelmed and sold many of their paintings. It was also very busy weekend for the local restaurants and stores.

“The overwhelming success of the last two shows and......

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Youth Homelessness in Lanark County - theHumm March 2020

By Submitted Maureen Running and Nancy Chevrier, Social Justice Committee, CFUW Perth and District

In 2020, youth homelessness continues to be a difficult and complex problem across Canada. In Lanark County youth homelessness is often invisible but is nevertheless very real. Man......

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Onion Paper and Ashes - theHumm March 2020

By Angie Arendt

We were standing next to our lockers waiting for the bell to ring before heading into Typing I for an hour of the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog, hoping that today would be the day......

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Kanata Choral Society
An Afternoon of Music & Fun
- theHumm March 2020

Once a year, members of the Kanata Choral Society present an event that is filled with light music to entertain not only an adult audience but also the younger generation. The title of this year’......

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More Music at MERA - theHumm March 2020

By Trina Conboy

With two appearances at MERA last year, you would think that we would give James Keelaghan a rest for a while. That’s what we thought too, until we got a last-minute chance to host him and Jez Lo......

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MVTM: New Fibre and Textile Art Award! - theHumm March 2020

The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (MVTM) is proud to launch the first KDS Fibre and Textile Art Award to recognize excellence in fibre and textile art. It’s been created as a showcase of......

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A Rough Start: Tales of Lower Town - theHumm March 2020

On Sunday, March 22, the Kanata North Concert Series presents an afternoon of stories and song, venturing back to a time when a shiner meant more than a black eye and Ottawa was the toughest......

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Deep Roots Food Hub - theHumm March 2020

By David Hinks

Carp-area physician Dr. Barry Bruce is a tireless advocate for local food production and healthy living. At the recent Seedy Saturday event in Almonte he engaged passersby at the very professiona......

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MMLT “Tick Talk” and AGM - theHumm March 2020

On Wednesday, March 25, the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) invites everyone to attend “Keeping pace with the risk and spread of tick-borne diseases in Ontario and Quebec” — a presen......

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Stand-Up and Take Notice! - theHumm March 2020

By Article submitted Vicki Graham, standup comic wannabe. Vicki lives in Merrickville and is active in her local theatre group. A retired Bank Manager and breast cancer survivor (two things you don’t ass

I always enjoy going through the Humm monthly. While looking for a winter adventure, I came across an article promoting stand-up comedy. I jumped at the chance, and for the last four weeks, seven......

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Maple Tale: A Brief History of Fortune Farms - theHumm March 2020

By Ray Fortune

Once again the maple syrup season is here. After a wet dreary January it’s great to look forward to Spring and the taste of fresh maple syrup.

This will be the 47th year of making maple syru......

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Meet Federal Green Party Candidate in Carleton Place
- theHumm March 2020

By Barb Purdy

To take on the climate emergency, we need to inspire voters and volunteers to join us, the Green Party first responders. What are the best ways for us to work hard and work smart together?

Pl......

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Dance for Your Health!
- theHumm March 2020

On Saturday, April 25 Eddy and the Stingrays return to the Almonte Civitan Club for the annual Spring Dance in support of Almonte General Hospital – Fairview Manor Foundation. Swing to the c......

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Gold Discoveredin Lanark County! - theHumm March 2020

By Jill Carty

When you live a peaceful and tranquil life amongst the natural beauty and maple trees that capture the essence of the Lanark County countryside, the seasons serenade you with the renewal, growth,......

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Welcome Springwith some Upbeat Jazz! - theHumm March 2020

The Station Theatre is proud to welcome the Sam Kirmayer Sextet for the first concert of their 2020 music series. Based in Montreal, Sam is a guitarist and composer who has recorded two albums: O......

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ADHS Presents Noises Off
- theHumm March 2020

By Elizabeth Golding is a grade 12 student at ADHS

Come see Almonte and District High School’s latest play, and don’t forget the sardines! This year ADHS will be performing Noises Off, which was written by Michael Frayn in 1982. It was during a t......

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Finding (You)the Perfect Book - theHumm March 2020

By Christine Row

Libraries and bookstores offer a special service that online retailers cannot mimic: connecting people to the perfect book. In the book world, this connection is called “readers’ advisory service......

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Garden Workshops - theHumm March 2020

The Almonte Library is offering several Saturday morning workshops to help you green up your garden this spring. The first one takes place on March 14 from 10am to noon, when local grower Sa......

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Birding — Not Just for Birders! - theHumm March 2020

Birding (or birdwatching) is one of the fastest growing hobbies in North America, with one in five adults participating. It is both a science and a hobby that gives participants an excuse to trav......

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Learning in Almonte Inspires Author - theHumm March 2020

By Glenda Jones & Pat McLaughlin

Sometimes all it takes is encouragement and validation to get creative juices flowing. For Pat McLaughlin, newly published poet, taking a Learning in Almonte course on creative writing with Phil ......

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Einstein’s Restaurants
(or, the Valley eats at Valley Eats!)
- theHumm March 2020

By Sebastian Weetabix

The word restaurant derives from soups sold “to go” in marketplaces. As we know them, restaurants date to the time of the French revolution. Today the term restaurant covers a very wide range of ......

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Don’t Say That! - theHumm March 2020

By Glenda Jones

Old Nellie has been in the barn all winter and she’s getting spring fever, so it’s time to saddle up the old girl and get on my high horse for a trot around the countryside. Riding can be a pain ......

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Marg Graff & SchoolBOX North
- theHumm March 2020

By Sarah Kerr

Almonte’s hometown charity, SchoolBOX, is celebrating the ETFO social justice award-winning teacher Marg Graff for her service and dedication in helping us create Indigenous Learning Centres......

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Movies, Music, and Irish Roots - theHumm March 2020

By John Pigeau

It’s March, so by the time you’re reading this it’s either spring or spring is just around the corner. That, I submit to you, is as great a cause for celebration as St. Patrick’s Day. This month,......

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Art News Around the Valley - theHumm March 2020

By Miss Cellaneous

Fibre Fling Show & Sale

Out-of-the-Box Fibre Artists will be celebrating their annual Fibre Fling Show and Sale on April 3 and 4. This event will showcase ove......

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Seedy Sunday in Perth - theHumm March 2020

Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner — and the Perth Farmers’ Market would like to help you get ready. Maple sap will be flowing, the snow will melt, and it will soon be time to st......

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TheHumm’s Daily Dose for March 28, 2020
Support Almonte Merchants, Get Out and Run, and Stay Healthy with Modern Thymes
- theHumm March 2020

Destination Almonte has created a wonderful online resource for folks wanting to support their local merchants. At destinationalmonte.com......

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TheHumm’s Daily Dose for March 27, 2020
Art Kits for continued creativity, and original art in exchange for ordering books!
- theHumm March 2020

JB Arts in Almonte and Art & Class in Perth are both offering a creative way to stay creative: custom art kits that can be delivered or picked up! In Almonte, you can email jeff@jbarts.ca and......

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TheHumm’s Daily Dose for March 26, 2020
Good food for dinner, the history of Fortune Farms, and Mississippi Mudds-wear.
- theHumm March 2020

If you find yourself running out of flour (or inspiration), why not order dinner tonight from The Good Food Co? Petra writes: “We are trying to keep food waste and traffic into the storefront to ......

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TheHumm’s Daily Dose for March 25, 2020
Bubbles & Bites, YouTube Yoga, and band banter with Blackie & the Rodeo Kings.
- theHumm March 2020

Good news! Artizen Kombucha is teaming up with friends to deliver an assortment of delicious goodies made right in Perth. They write: “Our small rural town boasts incredible culinary creativity a......

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TheHumm’s Daily Dose for March 23, 2020
Online yoga, delivering groceries to seniors, and a virtual April Humm!
- theHumm March 2020

Starting today (Monday, March 23), Carp’s Yoga & Tea Studio will be offering their daily schedule of yoga classes LIVE online since the studio is temporarily closed due to Covid-19. Find out ......

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In Memoriam
- theHumm March 2020

By Kris Riendeau

Shaun McLaughlin Former Mayor of Mississippi Mills

In his “County Curmudgeon” column that ran in the December 2002 issue of theHumm, Shaun McLaughlin wrote: “‘Fight the good fight’ is a phra......

...more