Review-Mirror

•Continued from page 1 Activity at Beveridges has also increased with the free lockage this year increasing from 216 to 406 this year. Cumulative traffic sta- tistics to the end of July show a 1.8 per cent drop which is small considering the considerable chal- lenges the canal has faced this year. The percentage of boaters' origins reflects greater use of the locks by local boaters with the per- centage of Ontario boaters increasing from 63.3 to 67.3 per cent this year. The percentage of Que- bec boaters dropped from 25.6 to 21.8 per cent – or 7058 vessels this year compared to 8475 in 2016. American boaters decreased from 3263 in 2016 to 2912 this year. The section from Jones Falls to Kingston were all down for July and on the season. The stretch from Smiths Falls to Ottawa sees most numbers close to 2016, with some up and some down. •Continued from page 1 the $20,000 needed. Raising that last money to get the project complet- ed this year is sweet for the Burtch family who have been tied to the school through attendance or, in the case of daughter and teacher Amy Whalen, professionally "I was hoping we'd get the five grand," said Whalen who has a daugh- ter who was in Parker Simpson's class. Bryan Burtch died in February 2014 from pan- creatic cancer. His family organized a fundraising dance in summer 2016, which with $4,000 in pro- ceeds benefitted pancreat- ic cancer research. The family has also sold over $5,000 in pan- sies since his death. " I know that it's impor- tant but you don't see the results," said widow Sue Burtch who is happy the family changed causes this year to one which will immediately benefit the community. The family also added a meal to the event which daughter Sara and her hus- band Daryl cooked from scratch. "It was their idea to do the meal. The food was unbelievable," said Whalen. "It was good, really successful. Everyone had a great time and everyone was fed," said Burtch. Work on the South Crosby playground will also include the installa- tion of playground equip- ment from the now closed Rideau Centennial School. "We won't start it until after the equipment is installed. We want it done before winter," said Prin- cipal Monique Antoine Hartley. The project will include plantings and a shade shel- ter and buddy bench area to remember him. The area will have a theme of something near and dear to Parker's heart, Star Wars. By Margaret Brand The Review Mirror A group of Portland area residents have seized the idea of recreating the Emmanuel Anglican Church in Portland as a community space and museum. The Portland on the Rideau Historical Society (PRHS) has been leading the initiative and have approached the Anglican Diocese with their idea. "They said they would not put the property up for sale until we had more information and other sup- port," said Tom Sled, a spokesperson for the group at Township of Rideau Lakes council on Monday. "They like to see com- munity involvement. To get the community togeth- er on it would be very favourable. They said they would not put the property up for sale until we had more information and other support," he said. The 156 year-old stone church was deconsecrated earlier this year, a similar fate to other local Angli- can churches in North Leeds including the those in Delta, Elgin and New- boyne. It is a landmark in the village with its high steeple and its prominent place on the highway you know if you are leaving or approaching the commu- nity. The PRHS offered sev- eral alternative uses for the church and adjoining Myers Hall, an addition with a basement which was built in the 1980's. Sled offered a number of potential roles the building could play in the community including a museum for the PRHS, a tourist information centre, a library, a community social centre and a tea room. A motion of council acknowledged Sled's pre- sentation and has directed staff, Mike Dwyer, to meet with Sled to establish a timeline to proceed with discovery in the communi- ty. Councillors around the table were interested in the re-creation of the church into a new public space. The proposal comes at a time when council will be needing to make a deci- sion about public facilities in Portland where there is a need for a new fire hall, the library branch operates in rented space, the public school has closed and could be available for sale and significant investment is needed for upgrades to the existing community hall. There aren't immediate challenges to the use of the hall but there are weak- nesses in the structure that we'll have to address," said Mayor Ron Holman. The building has a leak- ing roof, bathrooms which need to be upgraded and is expensive to heat. "It's a tired building. When you have a separate library, maybe it should be combined," said Holman. Last week the township got some help with the issue when they received around $50,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Agri- culture and Rural Affairs for a study to examine the business case for the rede- velopment of the commu- nity hall site which could include public and com- mercial uses. "We have expressed an interest in the school. Sometimes to achieve what you need it costs us more than building new," said Holman. The Portland Anglican Church had a final Christmas celebration last year before the space was deconsecrated in January. The Portland on the Rideau Historical Society is seeking support from council to explore use of the building by the community. Playground to include Rideau Centennial equipment The Review-Mirror August 10, 2017 – 3 Sat., Aug. 19 , 2017 Take-out 4-5 pm • Sit-down dinner 5-7 pm Lions Sand Lake Beachhouse Tickets available from any Lions member. $15 ea. The Westport Lions Citizens approach township with case for new community space Rideau Medical Centre 2 John St., Newboro Dr. Ian Shiozaki's office will be closed for holidays Aug. 18th to August 25, 2017 Re-opening regular hours on Monday, August 28 Upper Rideau Branch 542 10099 Cty. Rd. 10, Westport 613-273-3615 1952 2017 UPPER RIDEAU #542 We are the Guardians of REMEMBRANCE Follow us on Facebook for the latest on Legion 542 events Hamburger Fridays, 12-2pm weekly Burgers, hot dogs, sausages....hot off the grill, and of course nothing says summer than fries. Take-out available. Call 613-273-3615. 6-hand Euchre Thursdays, 7:30 pm Everyone welcome. Come join the fun. Lounge hours Tues. 4-7•Wed 4-7•Thurs 4-7•Fri 3-7•Sat 2-6 Booking for the 2017/ 2018 season. Call Juanita for a tour at 613-273-8455. Monday Exciting things happening at bingo! Toonie Pot Over $300+ Bonanza • Jackpot $750 All 55#s or less • Doors open @ 5:30 pm • Play starts @ 7 pm Hotdogs and refreshments available. ReJeanne LaCroix receives her $1,000 Bonanza win from Dave Wickenden. The Burtch family's dinner and dance on July 29 in memory of their father and husband Bryan raised $5600, enough to complete the South Crosby Public School's Park it with Parker project to honor student Parker Simpson who died of cancer in February. From left, Shannon Whalen, Amy Whalen, SCPS Principal Monique Antoine-Hartley, Susan Burtch. Ontario numbers up on canal

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