FOCUS on Scugog MAY 2011
Spring comes to Scugog
FOCUS - MAY 2011 Happy Teeth Happy Child Happy You Happy Us!
PORT PERRY DENTAL CENTRE 238 Queen St., Downtown Port Perry • 905.985.8451 • www.iluvmydentist.com Dr. J. Cottrell, Dr. J. Hardy, Dr. C. Banfield, Dr. J. Isenberg, Dr. E. King (Orthodontist), Dr. T. McIntyre (Periodontist) Winner of Readers’ Choice Award for Best Dental Office contents
Irish Rovers 5 Vic is the forgotten original ‘Rover’.
Love Of Luke 7 Woman turns tragic death of her first child into a meaningful goal.
Thumbs 30 Rating local events and decisions with a thumb ‘up or ‘down’.
Your New library 42 A sneak peek at Scugog’s new library interior.
Off The Rack 55 Taking the stigma out of buying second hand clothing.
What’s Up Scugog! Survivor 60 Entertainment and events taking 10 Tish Menzies gives hope to others place in Scugog Township. who are challenged by cancer.
Award Of Distinction Travelon 18 Local dentist receives highest honour 62 Worldly adventures with our roving university bestowes on its colleagues. traveller Jonathan van Bilsen.
MAY 2011 PUBLISHER / EDITOR...... J. Peter Hvidsten Focus on Scugog is published 12 times a year OFFICE / ADV. MGR...... MaryAnn Fleming from Port Perry and is distributed to all homes and businesses in Scugog Township by Canada Post. ADVERTISING...... Tracy Souch Delivery the first Tuesday of each month, although FOCUS PRODUCTION...... Arlene Walker this date does vary, depending on the number of on Scugog FREELANCE WRITERS...... Paul Arculus weeks in a month. Volume 6 - Number 2 Tammy Horvath, Jonathan van Bilsen Opinions expressed by columnists, contribu- Scott Mercer, Karen Stiller tors and letter writers must be signed, including Published by Observer Publishing of Port Perry address and phone number. Letters must be signed. ACCOUNTING...... Judy Ashby, N.Hvidsten 188 Mary Street - Port Perry, Requests that a name be withheld will be hon- oured only if there is a compelling reason to do so. Unit 201 - L9L 1A2 email: [email protected] Phone: 905-985-8585 website: www.focusonscugog.com Phone: 905-985-8585
FOCUS - MAY 2011 our cover Mailbox The month of April didn’t give us much warm weather, but visit one of Scugog’s many garden Dear Focus... centres and you’ll be treated to the wonderful smells of spring. Here Colleen Vanderzalm displays Yard Sale raises fund for Sick Kids some of the plants at her parents’ Dear Editor greenhouse near Port Perry. I enjoy reading Focus on Scugog each time it comes Photo by J. Peter Hvidsten out. Particularly as it relates to local persons and events. On May 14, we will be hosting a free Yard Sale at my house. This will be the 6th annual sale in support of Sick Kids Foundation - specifically the David Wiel- inga Memorial Fund in support of Rhabdomyosarcoma Excellent Professional Office Space Research. My son David had this cancer from 2003 until his passing in 2006. To put things in perspective; each year FOR RENT there are approximately 100,000 new cancer diagno- Immaculate, bright office space ideal for Real Estate, sis. Of this approximately one percent (about 900) are Insurance, Lawyers, Accountants, Health Care. childhood cancers. Of this 900 approximately 10 percent 188 Mary Street, Port Perry are sarcoma’s (Terry Fox had a sarcoma). Out of this 90 Available May 1, 2011 - For more information about eight to 10 are Rhabdomyosarcoma. Because of the small numbers there is not a lot of please call 905-449-6690 or 905-985-3089 funding for this research (approx $40,000 a year), so See photo and location of building each dollar is important. Beginning in 2006 and each and floor plan layout at: year since I have had a yard sale to raise funds for this www.scugogheritage.com/misc/forrent.htm research. Since this time many thousands of dollars have been sent to Sick Kids, and it is making a difference. Last year doctors discovered a gene that can slow down the growth of the tumour and a different one to speed it up. Both these findings are hugely significant!!! At the yard sale there are no prices on anything, although we do appreciate a donation for the items. All the proceeds are sent to Sick Kid’s Foundation. We are running out of items and, as in past years, . are requesting that anyone who has something they can donate to the yard sale to contact us (905-985-6715) to make arrangements. If you don’t have anything to donate - come on out and help us with this important fund raising event at 2903 Pine Point Rd., Scugog Island. Henry and Linda Wielinga Scugog Island
RAY HOBBS Trophies, Awards, Corporate Promotions GARAGE Embroidery • Graphic Design …in business for over 50 years Engraving • Screen Printing Owned and Operated by Brian Tassell Pineridge Impress 905-985-2839 182 Northport Road 168-178 Queen St., 135 North Port Road, Unit #8 & #9 Port Perry Port Perry Port Perry 905-985-2521 www.pineridgeimpress.ca www.brocks.ca Your Name is Our Business 905-985-0059
FOCUS - MAY 2011 The day the ice went away
Lake Scugog is once again ‘shimmering’ under bright, sunny skies as we head into May, having shed its icy shroud in early April. This year, just like every year since 1872, we are documenting the final day for ice on the lake. Many people, over the years, have asked just how the exact day is determined, since it is often gone in some parts of the lake at different times. It was explained to me some 40 years ago, that the ice is deter- mined ‘gone’, when you can stand on the town pier, look northward and see no visible sign of ice. And while this year we saw fishermen standing along the shores and some brave ones venturing out in their boats on Saturday, April 9 - there was still a large field of ice mid-way up the lake, visible from the dock. Fortunately warmer temperatures the following day took care of the remaining remnants of ice, opening the lake for another season. So, for those who do keep track - the official “Ice Out” date for 2011 will be recorded as - Sunday, April 10. This makes the eighth time since records began that the ice has left Lake Scugog on this exact date. Below are the earliest and latest dates on record for the ice to make its spring departure from Lake Scugog. * Earliest date - March 16, 1983 * Latest date - April 29, 1965 VICTOR
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FOCUS - MAY 2011 Changing Faces!
With the coming of spring, it appears as if life is Also on the move is Sunleite Integrative Health Centre being breathed into Scugog’s business sector. After a less from its 188 Mary Street address. Sunleite, a natural than positive start - with many businesses closing in the medicine clinic, has moved just steps away, re-locating at first three months of the year - the future of the down- 180 Mary Street, where they take up the space formerly town appears to be improving. occupied by Bliss Interior Design. For starters it’s good to see the spaces recently left The space formerly occupied by Yellow House Home empty by Perry Ann’s, Francesco’s Restaurant, Yellow Decor at 176 Perry St., has opened with a new tenant. House and a few others, are beginning to fill up. Brittany ‘N Bros., a store specializing in footwear, cloth- One nice addition to the main shopping district is ing and accessories opened in April. The store is owned Paula Lishman Limited, which has opened at 235 Queen by Tammy Thompson Letham and Andy Letham. St., the former home of Adorn Fine Furnishings. Paula is A little west of town, at the corner of Hwys. 12 and well known for her unique knit fur garments, and will 7A, we see Lakeview Marine has taken over the premises be a welcome addition to downtown. formerly occupied by Fat Boy Slims restaurant, which Adorn Fine Furnishings, opened on April 2 in the provides them with a large indoor showroom. former Perry Ann’s clothing store at 197 Queen St. Adorn Anyone wanting landscape materials now have a specializes in fine home decor and furniture. new place to check out. BSG Rock (Buckhorn Stone Group), owned by Wally Janzen, has opened a depot at 1400 Reach Road, just west of town, where they sell natural SINCE 1917 stone, armour stone, flag stone, step material, top soil, decorative rock and landscape supplies. Allen’s Computers & Electronics and The Source have moved from their longtime location at 1888 Scugog St. INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED into a newly renovated space at 94 Water St. Despite an influx of new businesses opening, it’s “ Scugog’s locally owned unfortunate to see a couple of stores have closed along and operated Scugog Street. First was Global Pet Foods at 1888 Scugog General Insurance Broker” Street, which has closed, but is reported to be re-opening in the near future. Most recent to shut their door is Party AUTOMOBILE With over 130 years Plus Bargain Centre at 1866 Scugog St. which closed the of Broker experience, end of April. Emmerson Insurance
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FOCUS - MAY 2011 Vic Marcus The unknown Irish Rover “A long time ago, when the Earth was green There was more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen They’d run around free while the Earth was being born And the loveliest of all was the unicorn.” . . . Irish Rovers 1968
These are the opening words to “The Unicorn”, one of Ireland’s best loved folk songs, made famous by Canada’s own Irish Rovers, one of the founders of which lives right in our own back yard. Vic Marcus, a long-time resident of Port Perry, was born in Ballymena, in Northern Ireland. When he was eighteen he decided it was time to seek out a new life in a faraway place. His aunt and uncle were immigrating to Canada and it seemed like a great opportunity for the young Ulsterman to tag along. Once in Toronto Vic went his own way. He was immediately hired as a farm hand near Malton, but after nine months he drifted to Toronto to work as a car upholsterer. As with many Celts a trip to the local Legion, on a Saturday night, was not an uncommon outing and one day in 1963, Vic found himself at the Legion in the Beaches enjoying a pint of Guinness. He met two lads from his Please turn to page 8
Vic Marcus, one of the original members of the Irish Rovers, retired in 2001 and has lived in Port Perry since that time. Photo by Jonathan van Bilsen
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FOCUS - MAY 2011 Bereaved Scugog woman hopes to make a difference
Pictures are all that Simone Clarkson and her husband Ken have to remember their son Luke, who died during birth ten months ago. Now they want to turn their tragedy into something meaningful.
Photo by J. Peter Hvidsten
ForLuke Kenneth Sherwood lovewas born on July 8, 2010 of Luke at 6:52 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 20.5 Simone explains the tragic events that followed. “I inches long. Beautiful blonde-red hair adorned his little began having severe pains in my abdomen that felt dif- head and he was in fact perfect in every way... except one. ferent than contractions. Shortly after these pains, Luke’s Luke was born sleeping. heartbeat monitor fell silent. Luke had to be delivered im- His loving parents, Ken and Simone, had anxiously mediately, and despite the desperate efforts of the medical awaited his arrival. Simone recalls, “When I found out we team, he was not able to be resuscitated. were expecting, the love I instantly felt remains indescrib- “Ken was the one to tell me... he had to tell me that able. Hopes and dreams of our future would cloud my Luke was gone“ said Simone tearfully. “I couldn’t be- mind. Luke truly was our miracle.” lieve it. The pain of losing him was incomprehensible. I There were minimal complications during the preg- screamed through uncontrollable sobs as Ken held me”. nancy. At Simone’s final ultrasound at 39.5 weeks, her They spent several hours with their baby boy, bathing amniotic fluid was a little low. So as a precaution, an in- and dressing him. Holding him... saying both hello and duction was scheduled for later that day. Although labour goodbye. “These are difficult memories, but ones we are progressed quickly, it seemed all was well. The expectant truly grateful for and will cherish always.” parents knew it wouldn’t be long before they would meet Months later, the medical team informed Ken and their son. Please turn to page 58
FOCUS - MAY 2011 did a great job. The organizers were so taken by their talent they decided to book them again. From there the trio played several gigs, mostly in coffee houses around the Yonge/Eglinton area and, of course, Yorkville. George’s cousin, Joe Millar, decided to also make the move from Ballymena to Toronto and joined the group with his button-key accordion. Vic was also an accomplished accordion player, but it wasn’t until Joe arrived that they decided an accordion would enhance the sound. The venues began to improve with a two week stint at the Poor Alex and as part of a Shriner’s convention at the Inn on the Park. “Those were two of the wildest days of my life,” Vic explained, chuckling as he remi- nisced. “I never wanted to hear that song, ‘The Rover’ again, but it was the only song they wanted to hear. In fact, they had us pa- rading up and down the halls singing at the top of our Original members of the Irish Rovers, including Vic Marcus, lungs.” are seen above in this 1964 picture published in the Toronto Soon after that, Wilcil McDowell, a friend of the Telegram. From left: Joe Millar (harmonica) Vic Marcus (bass boys came over from the guitar), George Millar (rhythm guitar), Jim Ferguson. (lead homeland and joined singer) and Doug Henderson (banjo). Their first song the group. Wilcil played was the old Irish the piano-keyed accor- Continued from page 5 dion and now the group homeland; George Millar also from Ballymena, and ballad “The Irish was making real music. Jimmy Ferguson of Belfast and immediately connected. Rover” from Things began to change The three of them began sharing stories of ‘days gone and Vic was becoming by’. which they took tired and disillusioned It was not long until the three, no doubt assisted by their name. with the future of the the drink, began singing folk songs from their native group. Ireland. They sounded quite good and through the use of George’s brother Will moved to Vancouver and sug- typical Irish luck they were overheard by the organizer of gested the band join him on the west coast. Somehow, the Legion’s upcoming variety concert, who insisted they through inexperience on the part of the members, Will perform as part of the show. arranged the contracts and ended up owning 75 percent They had two weeks to rehearse and used the base- of all revenue. Shortly thereafter the group recorded ment of George’s parents’ house in New Toronto. Vic was ‘The Unicorn’ at the Purple Onion in San Francisco and the only one with a car so he had to pick Jimmy up in the the rest is history. beaches and drive across the city. George played guitar Vic’s wife Mary, had no interest moving to Van- and Jimmy and Vic sang. Their first tune was to be the couver, so it was an easy decision after he had a major old Irish ballad, ‘The Irish Rover’, the song from which falling out with the group, to leave the band. There has they took their name. been little contact since that day in 1964. The day of the variety concert arrived and the boys Despite his having been one of the first three mem- bers of the Irish Rovers, history has not been kind. A National Award Winning Cruises quick search on the internet for the Irish Rovers quickly reveals that Vic’s name has been exluded. There is no mention of him as being one of the founding members. But life goes on! Upcoming Cruises Vic went on to work with the Toronto Port Authori- Tuesdays in May - Lite Lunch Sightseeing Cruise ty’s police force and in 1982 moved to “Metro’s Finest”. Wednesdays in May - Hot Lunch Cruise In 2001 he retired from the Police Force and he and his Tuesdays, Wednesday & Weekends in May - Sightseeing wife made their home in Port Perry. “I often wonder May 8 - Mother’s Day Brunch May 21 & 28 - Dinner Dance Cruise how my life would have been, if I had stayed with the May 15 & 29 - Dinner Cruise June 19 - Father’s Day Brunch boys, but I have no regrets of the route that I took. I had a very rewarding career and extremely fond memories of the origin and early days of the Irish Rovers.” Call for reservations at 905-982-1106 By Jonathan van Bilsen or book online at www.scugogcruises.com Focus on Scugog
10 FOCUS - MAY 2011 ‘Scugog Insight’ Coming this Friday SCUGOG Just what lies ahead in the coming decade for Scugog Township and the Port Perry business community is an unknown, but this week Observer INSIGHT Publishing of Port Perry, (publishers of Focus on Scugog) attempts to take a 2011 look into the crystal ball in a special publication called “Scugog Insight”. Changing Times Where we are… Watch for “Scugog Insight” this Friday in your local Port Perry Star Where we’re going! newspaper. You’ll find it packed with stories and pictures of community leaders and business people talking about the future of Scugog and the surrounding area. This is a publication you won’t want to miss. Extra copies of “Scugog Insight” will be available at the Focus on A Souvenir Edition Scugog office at 188 Mary Street, Port Perry, the BIA/Chamber of PUBLISHED BY OBSERVER PUBL ISHING OF PORT PER Commerce office at 181 Perry Street and other RY MAY 2011 convenient locations around town.
Watch for SCUGOG INSIGHT this Friday in your Port Perry Star
Focus on Scugog - proud supporter of local business. P RT PERRY SHOPO LOCAL - It helps keep our economy strong!
FOCUS - MAY 2011 11 Tish Menzies’ fight with cancer has been a day to day journey of faith
She was in the shower, at the cottage, when she found the lump in her breast. She didn’t panic and, even though she is very intuitive, she remembers having no unusual feelings and sensing no red flags. Tish Menzies did not however, ignore the lump. It was August of 2009 and as the month went by her “guardian angel” told her to go to the doctor and check things out. She saw her doctor, Dr. Elizabeth Russell, who also felt there wasn’t anything to worry about, but fortunately erred on the side of caution and immediately ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound. Tish has lived in Port Perry since she was two years old. As she sits and tells me her story, her words pour forth in a rush of images, feelings, time frames, family, doctor’s, friends; it is all a jumble of one of the most frightening times of her life. She starts one thought, then switches to another constantly, in a rush to tell me about the incredible journey that she’s been through. Her faith and spirituality mix with the practical elements that a person with the possibility of cancer faces. She continually reminds me how fortunate she is to have her family, faith and friends around her... then the reality of find- ing the lump surfaces again. Tish’s test results came back within a week in mid- October. The news was definite, she had breast cancer. Says Tish, “By this time, I knew the results were going to come back as cancer. I had all kinds of little signs. I was not shocked by the diagnoses and I also felt a strange calmness.” It was about this time Tish had became reconnected with two old friends who were “ I had lots of little to become instrumental in seeing her through signs so was not her cancer journey. This reconnection as well as other factors contributed to Tish feeling shocked by the that “somebody was letting me know some- diagnoses. I felt a thing was wrong. I can’t describe it but it was spiritual in the way that it was going to be strange calmness” cancer, but it was also going to be okay”. . . . Tish Menzies The test results led to a biopsy and Tish was informed that the biopsy would prove what they knew and give direction for the future. Everything moved very quickly from this point and she very much wants everyone to know what a Godsend the Port Perry clinic and hospital is. The speed, professionalism, compassion and kindness that she was shown in these early, terrifying stages was incredible. “You are faced with the terror of cancer and yet at every turn, the staff
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