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Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

Mark your Calendars with Spring & Summer Clyde River events!

Posted in Art, Community Centre news, Entertainment, Events, History, Murchison Place Park on April 27, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

Well, it is our hope that Winter has taken the hint and is on its way to leave room for the arrival of Spring. Not sure about you, but when I was younger, I couldn’t wait until Summer, but now it’s Spring I love. The landscape with its new grasses looks freshly mowed, the sky yet to be filled with the haze of summer brings the heavens a little closer and cool running waters show us what sapphire blue really looks like. Early mornings are filled with the busy songs of birds and it does one good to take a walk and smell earth in the air.

It is soon May and plans will be made for spring tasks and summer family times, vacations and visitors coming home from away. Well, while you are filling in your calendar, we have some events we would like you to add in, and make sure to take along your visitors if they are around. Show them what an active community we have and the fun we enjoy when we get together.

Murchison Place Park Cleanup: Saturday, May 18th, 9:00 a.m. Let’s beautify the park for this summer’s events! Bring your own garden and cleanup tools. Food, refreshments and camaraderie included. If it rains on that day, the cleanup will take place on Monday, May 20th at 9:00 a.m.

Canada Day Celebrations: Monday, July 1st, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Riverview Community Centre. Be a kid again or still. Enjoy hotdogs, cake and ice cream. The games for kids are not unlike those played a century ago, but they are still popular, and it’s great to hear and see their youthful enthusiasm and laughter as they cross the finish line and claim their prize. You can view photos and the story from last year’s event by clicking here.

Strawberry Social: Wednesday, July 10th, 6:00-8:00 p.m., Riverview Community Centre. The Clyde River Women’s Institute will be back to host their ever popular Island strawberries and ice cream. People come from far and wide for this occasion, so it is not only a flavourful event; it is a great time to see old friends from other communities and those home from away. View photos and story from last year’s social by clicking here.

Concerts in the Park: Yes, “concerts”; we are having two concerts at Murchison Place Park this year! The first is on Sunday evening, July 14th and the second concert is on Sunday evening, August 4th. Still waiting to hear the exact start time, but let’s say 6:30 p.m. for now…I will be back to confirm. If any of you have attended one of our concerts in the park before, you know the variety of entertainment you can enjoy. The organizers are inviting any of you who want to participate by sharing your talents or have an idea on what entertainers you would like to contact Lisa McQuaid-Ross at 675-4273 or email kjross@pei.sympatico.ca. Talents could include playing an instrument, singing, dancing, comedy sketch, juggling, storytelling or some other talent that is bound to entertain. I wonder if our ukulele players will perform? We are a very appreciative audience, so share your talent with us. Read about the 2011 Concert in the Park by clicking here.

Art in the Park: Saturday, August 10th, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Murchison Place Park. Bring along your artistic talent or just your love of art and take in the spirit of inspiration within our beautiful canopied park. We will serenade you with classical music and refresh you with beverages and a few homemade treats to complement your lunch. We are still finalizing our program, but this year, we may be featuring two artist demonstrations. We will have raffle prizes from local businesses that are far beyond your average door prize which will please your palate and your eye for beauty. Take along your own chair, lunch and any artistic supplies to enjoy your art or hobby. If the weather is rainy, we will move the event to the Riverview Community Centre which is walking distance from the park along the Clyde River Road. This Centre has hosted many artistic events and offers views of the hills and river that will equally inspire art. Please come along and experience for yourself what it is like to relax and be inspired. Read about Art in the Park 2012 here and 2011, here.

There now, that is quite a Spring and Summer to look forward to. And, no, Winter, you can’t come; we’ll tell you all about it next January.

With hills sloping down to the river, we have our own natural amphitheatre of beauty and sound. Enjoy arts and culture in the countryside this summer in Clyde River.

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Ukulele Fun and Sing Along – LEAP Program 2013

Posted in Entertainment, Events on March 30, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

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Jo-Ann MacPhail, Robert MacPhail and Ferne Halman

If you ever need ukulele players, we now have three of them in Clyde River. Ferne Holman and her brother Robert MacPhail and friend Jo-Ann MacPhail joined a LEAP at the South Shore Villa this winter.

They are so grateful to Dennis Wells for his weekly trips to the South Shore Villa to spread the gospel of the ukulele. He is the instructor for South Shore Villa’s LEAP.  Dennis has been coming out to Crapaud every Wednesday for eight weeks to teach the gang how to play and sing along at the same time. This is a skill that the majority of our group never had the opportunity to learn before.

This class of ten seniors is thrilled, even astounded with their progress and are already planning additional concerts after their final class performance on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at South Shore Villa in Crapaud. Everyone is invited to attend the concert.

The new players love the versatility of the ukulele and how it lends itself to many styles of music from blues to gospel to the classics. The instrument’s small size makes it very playable and portable for the older beginner.

It takes courage to try new things. Here are some quotes from the new players:

“Excellent course!! I really enjoyed my time with Dennis and the other players. Who would ever have thought…dreamed, that I might actually learn to play an instrument?” – Jo-Ann MacPhail

“What a great way to spend a morning! It is fun and relaxing. Dennis was a great teacher. It’s so nice to get together and learn a new instrument you never played before.” – Ferne Halman

“I was pleased to learn about the ukulele.” – Robert MacPhail

I, Julia, was given a ukulele on my eighth birthday along with a book. I recall that at first I wasn’t too impressed, as it wasn’t obvious to me that it was about the chords and strumming along as I sang. But I do remember my breakthrough in understanding. That early experience stayed with me and is likely why I wanted others to have the fun of learning to play along. It’s all  about having the opportunity to try. So parents never underestimate the value of your gifts and how your efforts on behalf of your children may bear fruit many years later.

The participants are appreciative of the Learning Elders Arts Program funded by the Dept. of Tourism and Culture and the PEI Seniors Federation Inc.

(Story provided by Julia Purcell)

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Christmas Party next Tuesday, December 4th, 7:30 pm

Posted in Christmas, Community Centre news, Entertainment, Events, History, Women's Institute News on November 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

What a wonderful Fall we had here in PEI and still not any arrival of snow but maybe tomorrow, as the chilly Northwest winds have arrived. The month of December will soon be upon us and in PEI that means the beginning of the Christmas party season. Clyde River will have their community Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 4th at 7:30 pm at the Riverview Community Centre.

Whether you live in or love going to Clyde River events, you are welcome to enjoy the warmth of our hospitality. Other than bringing along your Christmas spirit, you can choose to bring along a gift (value of $5) for an exchange. Men are to take gifts for men; women take gifts for women. There will be music, carol singing, skits, games, some tasty food and overall a grand time.

The Women’s Institute are participating this year in the White Cross Christmas Gift Campaign. This campaign was established in the early 1960s by the Canadian Mental Health Association, PEI Division. If you wish, you can bring along a small, new, unwrapped gift of a personal item e.g. shampoo, cosmetics, socks or gloves. The Clyde River W.I. will arrange to drop off theses gifts at the White Cross Program office in Charlottetown. Gifts will be given to those who may not otherwise receive one this season.

On the evening of our Christmas Party, we will be selling tickets to win a 3′ x 2′ gallery photo of Clyde River featured on the front cover of the newly launched photo book, Landscape of Memories. Tickets are $5 each. Also, if you have not yet had a chance to purchase the book with 170+ full-colour photos of our community and you wish to give it as gifts this season, there will be books available for sale at $25.

So find a touch of red in your wardrobe and come on out to celebrate the Christmas season with your friends and neighbours.

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Art in the Park 2012

Posted in Entertainment, Events on August 15, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

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If you subscribe to The Guardian newspaper’s print edition, you have likely already read the half-page story featured yesterday on Art in the Park 2012. Otherwise, you can read the article entitled Creativity Flowed under a Canopy of Trees written by Cassandra Bernard and photographed by Brian McInnis by clicking here.

The perfect streak of sunny weather we have experienced for most of this summer was challenged this past Saturday, as a misty shower arrived just about 10:00 a.m. Although, we were well protected from a light rain under the trees, the droplets that trickled down from the leaves on our skin was refreshing after the hot, humid week we had endured. Farmer Alex Dixon studied weather maps beforehand and said the shower would not last. We already had everything set up, so we were keen to believe him, and those who came were full of enthusiasm.

Jo-Ann had already arrived on her lawn tractor, hauling a trailer loaded with brilliantly-coloured potted plants to decorate the centre area of the park. Carla MacDonald, Ellen Ross and Kerrilee York had transported chairs and supplies from the community centre. Kerrilee had the beverage table ready with a beautiful table cloth and the coffee brewed. Fresh biscuits and jam contributed by Doreen Pound were on plates. Julia had her group class ready to begin under the trees where she could have the most protection from further possible rain. Jo-Ann had umbrellas to cover the registration and raffle tables. Pam Wheatley from Cornwall Public Library had the children’s reading tent set up along with a large selection of art and craft books for visitors to view. Ellen Ross had the sign out by the Trans Canada highway. Alex Dixon had the church door open for easy access to washrooms. Doreen tied yellow balloons to the front gate to guide visitors. Our dedicated Art in the Park team was forging ahead.

A small but very committed group of guests showed up early and congregated under the trees with Julia. Renee Dahn had already begun playing her heavenly music. Pretty soon, the art group was well into understanding how to analyze a landscape and translate it to drawing and watercolour. Conveniently, there was a spectacularly large yellow grain field just beyond the trees to the North to offer the perfect scene to complement the lesson. We sent up a notice to Facebook and the website just in case anyone was checking on the event’s status, and before long we were welcoming more folks to the artistic fold.

There were lots of lovely prizes. The raffle table was busy. Jo-Ann sold tickets for fresh blueberries and blueberry plants from Clyde River Orchard, a gift certificate and promo items from Marco Polo Land, and a bouquet of flowers from her own gardens. Door prizes included art supplies and $50 gift certificate from Ellen’s Creek Gallery, a wine basket from Matos Winery, and a gift certificate from Gass’s General Store. Cornwall Save Easy provided beverages and cheese for everyone.

We were pleased to see The Guardian photographer and a reporter join us and share our experience of this beautiful park and its inspiration for creativity.

This year, we had some new visitors who had never had a chance to visit the park, in fact, they did not know it existed. They told us how delighted they were to find such an enchanted spot and have plans to return with friends.

So at the end of the day, what flowed even more than light rain was the creativity that each person brought to the event. See you next year.

Note from Cornwall Public Library:

Cornwall Public Library supports the visual arts by providing art exhibit space for local area artists. Every six weeks, a new individual exhibit is launched, and a group show happens in the Spring and Fall. For this October’s group show, local artists are invited to produce a piece of art inspired by a favourite poem of their choice. Contact the Cornwall Library for details at 629-8415.

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You can Learn Something from a Duck

Posted in Business, Entertainment, tagged , on July 20, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Did you ever imagine learning about leadership from a duck? Maybe you can. Let’s take a look at Carolyn Wood’s ducks at her farm in Clyde River. In the first photo, you see the brown duck with an idea of the direction to take the group. The others go along, except for the big white duck at the back who had thought her authority was unquestioned.

In the second photo, you notice the brown duck makes the mistake of looking back to possibly exchange a glance with the self-appointed head duck. Well, you can see what happens next. The brown duck who was the leader one moment is now at the end of the line.

Now what lesson could we take from this? If you have a clear direction of where you want to go, don’t hesitate or second guess yourself. Walk or waddle with purpose, and people and ducks will follow you. If you hesitate for too long, those who follow you will become afraid and look for a stronger, more purposeful leader like the big white duck.

There are others who do not wish to be leaders; they stay in the middle, so no matter which leader they follow, their place in the middle is secured.

Beautiful weather is forecasted for PEI this weekend, so head in a direction and enjoy yourself.

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Julia Purcell’s classes on the “Joy of Watercolour Painting”

Posted in Art, Business, Entertainment, Feature Stories, Seasons, tagged , , , , on July 15, 2012 | 1 Comment »

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Julia is a wonderful artist and she is also a wonderful art teacher. Her local students already know that, but now she is attracting students from other parts of the world. A video was produced that showed her leading an art class at her home which was placed on YouTube. As a result, Julia is receiving requests from visitors to have watercolour art classes with her during their trips to PEI this year.

When I stopped by yesterday, a couple from Syracuse, New York, and their daughter who lives in Atlanta were arriving for their class. They travelled to PEI to celebrate their wedding anniversary and their daughter, to celebrate her birthday. They were eager students as they sat down. Julia had watercolour paper ready and mounted on cardboard, along with brushes and palettes at each of their places around the table.

The students’ class is within Julia’s gallery by a large window overlooking her front gardens. Her paintings are all around on walls and easels, with smaller ones set on shelves of book cases. The house is a perfect retreat with all wood walls and vaulted ceilings, giving her students a warm, spacious cabin-in-the-forest type of feeling. I couldn’t help but think how rich Julia’s daughter Renee’s classical violin music would sound inside this wooden space. Artistic talent runs in the family here.

One of the things that makes Julia such a good teacher is even though she has painted all her career and has an impressive collection of art, she is still full of childhood wonderment about art, and her enthusiasm ignites the same feeling in her students. She shares interesting facts about art history, she tells them how to create a colour, and emphasizes how important it is not to leave your brush in water after you are finished painting…all in an atmosphere of playful abandon.

Julia told them about the Clyde River website, and they were keen to know more about the community, how many people live here and the website address to read stories about the place they were spending their Saturday morning, celebrating precious milestones in their lives and creating treasurable memories. They understand beautiful places; they live among the spectacular Adirondack Mountains in New York, or as they refer to as “the real New York” not the city of New York.

If you know of visitors to PEI, or maybe you and your friends, that would like a group art class with Julia, you can contact her at purcellgallery@pei.sympatico.ca. View the video produced on her art classes here.

Julia and her daughter Renee will be featured at this year’s Art in the Park event at Murchison Place Park on August 11th, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. More information here.

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LEAP Open House

Posted in Community Centre news, Entertainment, Events on April 2, 2012 | 1 Comment »

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The Clyde River LEAP community choir program was successful for the 30 plus seniors who took part in the 10-week program. The Open House on Saturday March 31st attracted a large crowd to the Riverview Community Centre to hear the choir perform old favourites and complex musical selections. The range of songs was varied from the Island Hymn, and When Your Smiling, to Broadway selections like The Sound of Music and What a Wonderful World.

LEAP stands for Learning Elders Art Program. This LEAP project is sponsored by the Clyde River Womens Institute, an affiliate of the PEI Senior Citizens Federation, the administrators of this Island-wide LEAP program. Funders of LEAP are the Department of Tourism and Culture and the PEI Government, under the direction of Hon. Robert Henderson. At Saturday’s Open House, Hon. Valerie Doherty and MLA for this district represented the Government; John Kenny, President of the PEISCF, and Linda Jean, their Executive Director brought greetings from this partnership. Betty Watts, President of the Clyde River Womens Institute spoke on behalf of the sponsoring group, expressing thanks to the partners of the LEAP initiative. Doug Gillespie, Chair of the Clyde River Community Council congratulated the LEAP program and praised the achievements of the choir.

Lisa Stead was the artist/teacher for the community choir, Her skill and leadership was largely responsible for the success of this community choir. She had a great way of encouraging the choir members and a gentle way of suggesting ways that the overall sound could be improved. The participants love to sing, and the song selections that Lisa chose were enjoyable and sometimes challenging which fulfilled the LEAP objectives. It is a program designed to reduce social isolation amoung seniors by providing opportunities for fun, socializing and learning. This community choir offered opportunities to meet all of these objectives.

Thirty four seniors, representing seven communities sang at the Riverview Community Centre on ten Monday afternoons this winter, so new friendships were created. Half of these seniors were from Clyde River and neighbours had a chance to get to know each other better. It was interesting that every Monday afternoon the choir met was a sunny afternoon, perhaps contributing to the good cheer of every session.

The comments from participants in the choir were positive. Many looked forward to the weekly classes, and all said they will miss them. Several would like to see a choir continued or started again next year. Since Clyde River is a community known for its love of singing and since the Riverview Community Centre is a lovely facility for such a program, this may just again. Just ask this year’s participants if they would recommend this, and the results would be overwhelmingly positive.

This year’s group participants were  Jean MacLean,  JoAnn MacPhail, Betty Watts, Ethel MacQuarrie, Sharon Sawyer, Hilda Colodey, Lois Rowell, Judy Rayner, Carol Murray,  Jim Pound, Emily Bryant, Sandra Cameron, Jessie MacFadyen,  Neil MacFadyen, Connie McCardle, Maisie Smith, Carol Richards, Sadie MacLean, Pearl MacEachern, Dianne Crozier, J’Nan Brown, Janet MacQuarrie, Pauline MacArthur, Wanda Whitlock, Kaye Morrison, Vans Bryant, Verna Lee Dalziel, Marion Copleston, Tony Reddin and Leila Nicholson.  Four people had to discontinue due to illness or other committments.

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Invitation to Join the Clyde River LEAP Community Choir

Posted in Entertainment, Events, Women's Institute News on November 18, 2011 | 2 Comments »

The Learning Elders Art Program is funded by the PEI Department of Tourism and Culture and administered by the PEI Senior Citizen’s Federation Inc. The aim of LEAP is to provide seniors with an opportunity for learning, fun and socialization during the winter months. Community groups with affiliation to the PEISCF can apply for a LEAP grant.

For the fourth year in a row, the Clyde River Women’s Institute has been successful in obtaining a LEAP grant for seniors. The 2012 program will offer seniors a chance to participate in a community choir, singing easy and familiar songs. There will be nine sessions held weekly on Monday afternoons from January 9 to March 5, 2012.

Everyone, senior or not, please mark your calendar for the open house and choral performance which will take place on Saturday, March 31.

Prior choir experience is not necessary to participate. This is about singing for fun (not perfection).

For more information or to enroll in this upcoming LEAP program, please phone Emily at 675-4203 or email eabryant@pei.sympatico.ca

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The First Annual Art in the Park

Posted in Entertainment, Events, Feature Stories, Seasons on August 21, 2011 | 4 Comments »

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If the sun shines and the temperature is warm for an outdoor event, when creative people and those who enjoy creativity show up to create or enjoy creation, and everyone enjoys themselves as much as they did yesterday, then destiny dictates that it must be the first of an annual event. I am not sure if you would come across this finding in any study of social physics, but maybe we could enter this thesis for academic acceptance. Another scientific observation that we noticed yesterday is when musical instruments play beautiful songs, even the birds stop their singing to listen. Until all is proven, we will just call it a magical morning.

Vans Bryant and Joe Penny set the artistic tone for the morning with their guitar and mandolin music strumming in the background as Clyde River artist Julia Purcell began a water-colour demonstration in the centre of the park for some keen observers. Sharon Sawyer, Abigail Sawyer, Doreen Pound, Elizabeth Ferguson and Weldon Yeo were among those who were painting scenes of the park. Children were tucked in the reading tent set up by Calle Weiss from Cornwall Library. Calle also had a wonderful selection of art and craft books for people to view. Over by the gazebo, kids were playing games and Annie Boyle was teaching a young woman to knit.

Later in the morning, Renee Dahn moved through the interior garden serenading the artists with classical violin music and then circling the artists as their muse to spark their creative pursuits. One person mentioned to Renee that she made her feel like a great artist in Paris.

Tasty treats and flower arrangements fed the artistic soul. Emily Bryant prepared fresh coffee and tea and took along some of her famous cinnamon rolls. Jean Beer and Lois Gass were among those who brought some extra sandwiches. Cornwall Save Easy provided cold beverages and Robin’s Donuts offered robin eggs. Jo-Ann MacPhail brought along her pots of flowers and fresh-cut arrangements which were displayed throughout the park. Alex Dixon helped with the set up for the day.

There were prizes for all. The $50 gift certificate from Ellen’s Creek Gallery went to J’Nan Brown. The Matos Winery gift basket of wine, chocolates, nuts and crackers was won by Weldon Yeo. Everyone attending received a 25% discount coupon from Ellen’s Creek Gallery.

There were over 50 people who attended Art in the Park, and many of those people had not been inside the park before. They had driven past it many times, but they had no idea what a secret of beauty lies within the trees. Even though it was fortunately hot and humid yesterday, the trees offered a natural air conditioning that seemed to allow just enough sun and comfortable temperatures to provide the best conditions for artists in creation.

There is something about this park that conspires to restore balance and serenity. Maybe it is because the property was once the home of Dr. A.J. Murchison who was a well-loved doctor that visited the homes of the sick throughout this area and brought health and comfort to families.

Dr. Murchison’s grandson and his wife were there yesterday, Murdo and Betty Jean Brown. Murdo said the park has restored the original spirit of his Grandfather’s home. Murdo pointed out the trees that he recalled as a small child. Betty Jean told me about someone she had met one time who said she loved Dr. Murchison and she had asked why. The lady said that when she was a child, Dr. Murchison came to see her sick mother and while there, he noticed that she did not have any toys to play with. The next time he came to see her mother, he brought her a doll and told her mother to let the little girl keep it. At that time, the doctor’s word was God’s word. What Dr. Murchison understood was the importance of play and creativity in promoting and maintaining health in children and in adults.

Gary MacDougall stopped by after lunch with his grandson. He said every time they drive past the park, his grandson wants to drop in to play with the toy fire engine. There are toys tucked around for children to enjoy and there are treasures to be found by adults as well. The white swing offered a moment for a father and daughter and later for a husband and wife. The gazebo adorned with fresh-cut flowers offered a time for Marcia, a visitor from England, to share stories with those whose families had left England and Scotland to move to Clyde River many years ago.

Whenever I visit Murchison Place Park, I notice one consistent thing that is the fundamental element that contributed to the success of Art in the Park or any other event that is held here. No matter if it is a child, adult, a neighbourhood cat, or the birds, there is an inherent, unspoken knowledge of how this park is to be enjoyed and that is to play, create, imagine and to just be oneself.

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Clyde River Recipes

Posted in Entertainment on November 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

As we get closer to Christmas, we start to think about bringing out cookie sheets, pans and bowls and making ingredient lists to start baking our family’s favourite Christmas treats. Some of these treats are non-negotiable for our families; they want it exactly the way it has been for years. For kids coming home from away, Mom or Dad’s baking is a favourite indulgence which they know will follow up with a care package to take with them when they head away again.

We would like to feature some of your favourites on our Recipes Page (click on Recipes page above), so the rest of us can share in your family’s flavours of Christmas. Email your recipes to clyderiverpei@gmail.com, and if you have a photo of your family enjoying the treats, feel free to send along as well.

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