The publishers of The Current asked me to be part of their back-to-school series, and I am pleased to have my writing published alongside Hayden Smith and James Di Fiore. I enjoyed Hayden’s positive piece, and I appreciate his desire to return to routine and socialization with peers. I also …
We are all familiar with the phrase “unprecedented times” used in reference to the social, economic and lifestyle changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has generated. The most unprecedented thing in my world since March’s lockdown, however, wasn’t COVID-19-related at all. It was the appearance, about a month ago, of a …
Editor’s note: Welcome back, Mark Woermke! We’re grateful that Mark found time for this Porch Views during his summer “holiday” as we know that between gardening and historical research there aren’t any real holidays at his house. His views on eye care in the province – particularly in rural Ontario – …
The last time you heard from me, I explained that in my pre-retirement planning, I had decided to make Renfrew County German research my chief focus. I came to that after observing a number of retirees in action, sampling a number of activities, and evaluating my interests and my willingness …
Perhaps you have noticed that views from my porch are not appearing as regularly in the online and print versions of The Madawaska Valley Current these days. The publishers tell me that a number of readers have been inquiring, and I am well aware of folks’ proclivity to, in the …
OPINION What’s the adage? Polite people should never talk about sex, politics or religion. Well, in the Valley if we couldn’t talk about who’s new to Splitsville, who’s running around, what’s going on at the town hall, our MP’s latest outburst, who’s become a holy roller, or the bishop’s …
Joan Kitts was buried on a rainy afternoon in the St. Lawrence O’Toole graveyard in Barry’s Bay beside her beloved husband Charlie. Her nine children and many members of their families, some cousins and friends accompanied her on that final journey. Her daughter Julie said that when they drove into …
One of the items on the agenda for the August 27 council meeting was correspondence from Roger Paul, publisher of The Madawaska Valley Current, which identified potential grounds for recovering taxpayer money paid to township lawyers for legal work that, Paul believes, could have been avoided through using Alternative Dispute …
Summer is almost over and I haven’t spent much time on the porch watching the goings-on in the Bay. July’s heat made me retreat to the shadier summer kitchen for writing and relaxation, and gardening has taken up a lot of my time. Just the other day though, my garden …
Valley Manor’s courtyard garden was the perfect venue for gardening enthusiasts and community boosters to celebrate beauty and community at Madawaska Valley’s Communities in Bloom 2019 awards ceremony. After a warm welcome, thanks to the Board and staff of Valley Manor, and an introduction of the judges, co-chairs Debbie Marshall …
On Saturday May 11 all roads led to Madawaska as former residents and descendants of Madawaskans headed home to the “Growing Up in Madawaska Reunion.” I was one of them. It felt like a homecoming even though I didn’t grow up there and only spend a few hours a year …
Hundreds of people who live, have lived, or whose families lived in Madawaska at one time converged on the community centre in Madawaska throughout the day on Saturday May 11 to reflect on the “good old days”, preserve their community’s history, and to celebrate family and friendship. (Shown at top …
My English students have heard a lot of stories about Barry’s Bay and the Madawaska Valley. Many are humorous, a number are inspiring, some are poignant, others are not altogether flattering and a few are downright disturbing. All of them are true, but don’t worry, I never use names. On …
End times in Barry’s Bay as “imaginator” with local roots pens apocalyptic novel Have you ever imagined where you would take refuge if the world as you knew it was coming to an end? Author Kasey Kulas (see photo) has, and she thinks Barry’s Bay would be ideal in an apocalypse, …
It’s March Break. After a few days in Montreal, I returned to the Bay to relax, read, take in a few St. Patrick’s Day events, do a bit of marking, work on my column and nurse the cold that has returned. I did not expect to be thinking or writing …
