Year in Review in photos – July 2018

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Year in Review in photos – July 2018

Thousands took to the streets of Wellington for two fun-filled days celebrating Canada’s 151st birthday. Known as the coolest spot when the weather’s hot, Wellington was the place to be over the Canada Day long weekend. While the festivities were cool, the weather was not, as sizzling summer temperatures descended upon the region sending the mercury to 30 degrees—approaching 40 degrees with the humidity. – Sharon Harrison photo

Picton’s Main Street filled up with a sea of red, white and Canadian flags to celebrate Canada Day. And the intense heat didn’t deter people from perusing offers from vendors, listening to live music and grabbing a juicy burger or a cold beer. Above, Sarah Doiron and Trevor Brookes have their own way of cooling off. – Sharon Harrison photo

Barbara Sweet, CEO of County of Prince Edward Public Library with Rev. Ada Clifton, Incumbent, and Alexandra Bake, honorary chair of the capital campaign, holding Chico. Peggy deWitt photo

Those who love apple pie, and the many services of the County’s libraries baked up a $1,200 donation to kick-start the Picton Library Capital Campaign. The Apple Blossom Festival was held at The County Cider Company where friends and parishioners of St. John’s Anglican Church Waupoos gathered to sell apple pies. The library campaign has 1.2 million dollars already committed toward the expansion project, with plans to begin construction in the spring of 2019.

A kaleidoscope of quilts transfixed hundreds of visitors at the Wellington and District Community Centre to see more than 300 traditional, abstract and representational designs, as well as hand and machine made quilts. This 18th Prince Edward County Quilt Show – A Stitch in Time – is crafted by the Prince Edward County Quilters’ Guild (PECQG). – Sharon Harrison photo

Bay of Quinte MP Neil Ellis announced $25,000 in federal investment for the arts in Prince Edward County. He said $15,000 will go to Festival Players and $10,000 to the Prince Edward County Chamber Music Festival, through the Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF).

Not only does Elvis frequent Waupoos Estates Winery, but there was a sighting of singer songwriter Carrie Underwood there with her husband, NHL hockey player Mike Fisher. They were there to witness Fisher’s close friend and fellow Canadian, Patrick McAuley wed Allison Shaw.

Racers flocked to the first South Marysburgh soap box derby hosted by the recreation committee. Councillor Steve Ferguson said the committee was assisted by Nick Nowitski from Consecon’s derby, along with many volunteers. The next step, he hopes, is to create a soap box derby circuit involving all the wards.

Two public open houses this week were hosted by the municipality to discuss issues and recent surveys regarding short-term accommodations within Prince Edward County. Neil Carbone, the municipality’s Director of Community Development, outlined key details of the survey in a slide show. Paul Walsh, the municipality’s Manager of Planning, and Greg Bender of WSP Canada Group, the consulting firm hired by the municipality to conduct the survey, both spoke and answered questions. Carbone noted that almost 1,500 responses had been received to a community survey outlining options to address short-term accommodations (STAs). – Sharon Harrison photo

Picton’s Regent Theatre was rockin’ as the community gathered to show its support for Glenwood Cemetery.  The concert was put together in just a few weeks after news that some 175 gravestones and monuments had been aggressively toppled and broken, some destroyed beyond repair, in Picton’s historic 145-year-old Glenwood Cemetery when vandals struck on June 20. All the musicians and artists performing were from the County and all donated their time and talent to the cause. One hundred per cent of the proceeds from the event will be put toward restoration and repairs. – Sharon Harrison photo

Five projects to continue restoration and protection of water quality and ecosystem health in the Bay of Quinte received $593,440 in federal government funding through the Great Lakes Protection Initiative. “In the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan (BQRAP), the main environmental issue identified for the bay has always been the amount of phosphorus entering it from both rural and urban sources,” said Sarah Midlane-Jones, Communications for BQRAP. “These projects will help reduce phosphorus inputs, identify sources of phosphorus, and monitor the effects of phosphorus on the ecosystem.”

With Royal Assent received for Bill 2, Urgent Priorities Act 2018, wpd’s nine industrial wind turbine project in Prince Edward County is terminated. “They’ve had construction crews working over the weekend and trucks heading into the county at all hours to try and complete construction before this Legislature can conclude its work on Bill 2…. And they are nine white elephants. They will do nothing to help this province fight climate change—absolutely nothing. Their total capacity now, after previously being 60 megawatts, is down to about 18 megawatts of power,” said Todd Smith, Bay of Quinte MPP and Minister of Government Affairs, in the legislature. “This project deserves to die. It deserves to die exactly as it should die today – publicly and in front of the whole province.” Smith told the legislature the company has been building non-stop since the middle of June, even after the government announced its intentions to legislatively terminate the project on July 10. – Irv Collier photo

Fighting over how to fight, the Duelling Dames brought some lessons on bullying and violence to the Picton Branch Library. A full house enjoyed the live show featuring female sword fighters Victoria and Carson Goring who wove history with hilarity, and sound sword fighting skills and even brought a few wannabe swashbucklers on stage. In the end, there are no winners – as the two reinforced the idea that violence never ends well. – Sue Capon photo

A new County Seniors Centre offering programming and a sense of community in all corners of the County was launched at the North Marysburgh Town Hall. The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association established the centre to offer programming throughout the County’s nine local municipal town halls. Above, unveiling the new logo, were MPP Todd Smith, Ken Laycock (Director, Community Care for Seniors), Margaret Werkhoven (past president, Community Care for Seniors); Debbie MacDonald Moynes (executive director, Community Care for Seniors), Barbara Proctor (president and chair of the board, Community Care for Seniors) and David Harrison (acting mayor). – Sharon Harrison photo

More than 200 cyclists wheeled through Prince Edward County Monday, participating in the 20th annual Friends For Life Bike Rally which raises about $1 million annually for the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation. Mayor Robert Quaiff and councillors Steve Ferguson and Gord Fox provided a hydration station for cyclists as they waited to board the Glenora Ferry. – Sue Capon photo