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Clyde River Presbyterian Church offered a takeout dinner today further to pre-selling over 300 dinners along with a few extras today. When I dropped by to pick up my dinner, I saw Alex Dixon handing stacks of packaged dinners to a stream of customers from the back of a refrigerated trailer donated by Lowther’s Refrigeration parked at the side of the church.

Three options were offered including lobster, black forest ham, and a children’s meal of chicken fajitas and nacho chips. A dessert was included with all dinners. Inside in the entry, Betty Watts and Fred Kikkert were in charge of collecting tickets.

Kent MacPhee told me that a great group of volunteers decided to take this on for the first time this year. He and Donalda Docherty were in charge of ticket sales and others were great to promote the dinner as well. Volunteers were busy preparing the dinners over the past days in the church kitchen, led by Thelma Gillespie.

My meal included lobster out of the shell, potato salad, coleslaw, jellied salad, bread roll and dessert. Kent said that all the fixin’s were made from scratch. I noticed a nice extra touch where they included a tea bag and a mint.

There was also a little message included with the dinner that offered a thank you and a notice where they plan to repeat this event again next year on June 14th, so mark your calendars. The meal was so delicious that I am sure they will have great success next year. Money raised goes to the operations of the church.

Congratulations to all for a great team effort. Everything was so well presented and organized, and the food was great!

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Luckily Monday, May 20, 2013 was a nice day as 30+ volunteers created a little magic as they prepared the lovely Murchison Place park for summer fun. It’s amazing how quickly this can happen now that the park has some years of maturity and volunteers know how to approach the task. The trees were trimmed beforehand and that was a big help to the day.

This event was well organized by the park committee and Lisa Ross had a list for volunteers to refer to if they found themselves without a job. JoAnn MacPhail can always be counted on for protecting trees and shrubs. New volunteers provide a morale boost and this clean-up day was a first for the Sider family and Maggie Cameron and they added skill and enthusiasm. Regular volunteers like Shirley Farrar, Audrey MacPhee and Christine Young just arrive and start to rake leaves. Hon. Valerie Doherty has been present to rake every spring since the park opened in 2007. Donna Woodside’s finishing rake was perfect as she added a finishing touch to the perennial bed. Thanks to Alex Dixon and Alan MacQuarrie for the use of their vehicles to haul away leaves and debris from fallen trees. The MacQuarrie family, the Wood family and the Ross family work hard and know exactly what needs to be done. Vans and Emily Bryant came from Stratford to help but Erica Ross came all the way from Toronto and used her last precious hours on PEI to help out at the Park. Thank you to all volunteers, whether you could work for an hour or several hours, every bit helps.

Of course, food always is popular and that allows for time to connect with neighbours. There were lunch contributions from Carol Murray and Betty Watts as well as food brought by many of the volunteers who were there for the clean-up. Sandra Cameron made sure the tea was perfect to go with the muffins and cinnamon rolls. Jim Colodey cooked the hotdogs to perfection.

The nicest part of all is seeing the park when it is all clean. This year, four toddlers/preschoolers arrived just in time to try out the swings and the tree house. Seeing their joy makes the work all the more worthwhile. Happy summer, park users. May lots of children enjoy the park in the next few months, may walkers appreciate the walkways and may the special planned events be well attended and enjoyed.

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This beautiful park is the result of many hours of work on behalf of community members along with their commitment to the spirit and history of this place. It is a very special park for everyone who visits and it is different things to different people…for those who wish to have a quiet walk, for others who derive artistic inspiration, and for children to play and imagine.

But with all its specialness, it does require yearly maintenance and care through the summer months. However, even working in the park alongside others in the community is a positive experience.

Come along this Saturday morning at 9:00 with your garden and cleanup tools, and let’s work together to beautify our community park for this Summer’s activities. Food, refreshments and camaraderie are included. If it rains, the cleanup will take place Monday, May 20th at 9:00 a.m.

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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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Central Parish Soup Kitchen Ministry offers a heartfelt “Thank You” to the approximately 100 people who came out today to support their ongoing work. Just over $500 in donations were received which shows what a caring and active community we have in and around Clyde River.

They had some chili left over as well as some biscuits and cake. When they were cleaning up, a Dunedin family dropped by to ask if they could purchase some leftovers, so they went home with a full meal.

Coordinator of the Soup Kitchen Ministry Kerrilee York said, “We had many great volunteers who made the event possible, including those who worked at the event and those who baked, and some did both! These volunteers see what needs to be done without asking and go to work.”

If any of you who did not have a chance to attend would like to support this important work, please contact Kerrilee York at kerrileeyork@gmail.com.

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Fiona and Keith Samuel

Keith Samuel, husband of Fiona (Cameron) Samuel, recently received his Canadian Citizenship at a ceremony in Charlottetown.

Keith is originally from Annan in Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, UK.

He came over to Quebec to study French for a few months on a student visa. When the course finished, he decided that he wanted to see more of Canada, so he did research online and found out about WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or Willing Workers on Organic Farms). He applied at a few different farms across Canada, and the first one to get back to him was a farm owner in PEI.

Once Keith arrived, he learned that the owners had a farm and also two hotels, The Great George Hotel in Charlottetown and Stanhope Beach Resort. He had a worked in a hotel in Gretna Green, Scotland, for 15 years before coming to Canada, so they offered him a job at the resort in Stanhope for the summer. When the summer season was over, he went on to the work at The Hotel on Pownal, formerly The Islander. Now Keith is the General Manager of this hotel.

As they say, the rest is history. He has been here six years now. He likes how laid back and easy-going everyone is. The weather is different from Scotland; they don’t have too much snow or very cold temperatures. He said that when he arrived in PEI, he almost immediately realized how small the Island was and how everyone seems to know everyone.

His Canadian citizenship test included questions on government and structure, rights and responsibilities of being a Canadian citizen, history of Canada and trade. It sounds, Keith, like you could teach the rest of born-and-bred Canadians a few things.

“The day of the citizenship ceremony was daunting with all the waiting, but it was very exciting, not just for me but also for all the families around me taking the next step in their lives.” Keith said. “I felt welcome and proud to be part of Canada.”

When his family back home asks him about Canada, he tells them it is beautiful with great places to visit and the people are friendly. He does have to remind them that Canada is the second largest country in the world and you can’t drive from Charlottetown to Calgary in a day.

“I just love it here, ” Keith says. Well, we can see why. He was lucky enough to find a beautiful Clyde River bride, Fiona Cameron Samuel. They were married at the Clyde River Presbyterian Church last summer.

Fiona attended the citizenship ceremony along with her husband. “It was a wonderful experience to be able to attend the ceremony and to see how happy and excited all the new Canadians were,” she said.

Fiona and Keith Samuel reside in Clyde River. We wish you both many happy Canadian years.

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Volunteers at Soup Kitchen

All are welcome to attend a special lunch of chili, biscuits, cake and ice cream at the Riverview Community Centre on Sunday, April 7th from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., hosted by the Central Parish volunteers of the Soup Kitchen Ministry. This is the same delicious meal that the volunteers serve at the Soup Kitchen on the third Sunday of each month from September to June.

As part of the Soup Kitchen Ministry, five teams of volunteers typically prepare and serve 75-120+ people. Their delicious Chili recipe has become a favourite and features lots of lean-ground meat, fresh green and red peppers and onions. They have a standing grocery order at Danny Gass’ Store in New Haven; Marion has their order ready and waiting for them each time. Others drop off fresh-baked biscuits at the store to include with the order. Typically, 15 dozen biscuits are baked, and sometimes cheese biscuits if the Wood girls have baked them! Desserts include a variety of cakes with ice cream.

The Soup Kitchen Ministry wants to show you and have you enjoy the beautiful meal that they serve. There will be lots for everyone. A free will offering is welcomed which will go towards their ongoing work.

Let’s make a point of getting out to support this wonderful work!

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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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Due to today’s snowy weather, we are postponing our Annual Meeting until tomorrow, Thursday evening, March 21st at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Riverview Community Centre. The agenda will include approval of the budget and tax rate for 2013. All residents are welcome.

In the meantime, stay warm.

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Clyde River has certainly been a busy community. We have captured photos of history, landscape scenes and community events. We now have special albums that you can view and see enlarged versions of photos. We will be updating albums with more photos and adding more albums, so make sure to check back regularly. Visit the photos page here on our website or click here. Take a trip down memory lane.

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