Skate the Lake 2017

Portland, Ontario – The 13^th annual speed skating event was held on the Big Rideau Lake January 28^th & 29^th and it was a weekend filled with fun! Waking up early was well worth it for the ice conditions on the lake were amazing on both days. Participants could take part in the 5K & 10K races on Saturday and 25K & 50K regular marathon skating events on Sunday. Kids had the chance to try out their skating skills in a Kids 5K event on Saturday.

There were plenty activities to keep visitors of all ages active and warm on both days.

After the speed skating races, the viewers could enjoy a warm meal, served in the Portland Community Hall. The Portland Hall Board took care of that by organizing a Ham & Bean Brunch.

For the first time since the race started in 2004, people were able to watch the race from above, as helicopter rides were available on Saturday. There were curling and sleigh rides organized for kids and everyone could take a spin on the ice to music after the final race was finished on Saturday. At dusk, there were even fireworks with an after fireworks sit down dinner at the Portland Hall.

If you were part of the event and captured any amazing photos, send them to registration@portlandoutdoors.com and your photo just might get featured on the Portland Outdoors website.

For anyone interested in next year’s event, it will be held January 27^th & 28^th 2018 and you can already let the organizers know if you have any great ideas or would like to volunteer.

Share your passion for fishing with your friends and family – Canadian residents can fish Ontario licence-free!

Ontario family fishing week are designated as OFFW license-free fishing days. Fish license-free! Take a friend fishing! Ontario Family Fishing Weekend (OFFW) events make it easy to try fishing in Ontario waters for the first time (or the first time in a long time).

The government of Ontario designates several days during which Canadian residents can fish license-free in any water body where fishing is allowed. During all other periods, most Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years must purchase an OUTDOORS card and a fishing license to legally fish in Ontario.

Participants fishing without a license must fish under the Conservation fishing license limits which are set out in the current Ontario Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary. With the exception of the licensing requirement, Ontario fishing regulations, fees and limits continue to apply during license-free days. Printed copies of the summary are available at licence issuers and ServiceOntario Centres.

Date :

Saturday, July 2 at 12 a.m to Sunday, July 10, 2016 at 11.59 pm

Event location :

Rideau Lakes Ontario, Canada

Contact :

Tel. : (705) 748-6324 ext. 254

Website : http://www.ontariofamilyfishing.com/

Some Kind of Choir Concert at Westport United Church.

Special guests The Rideau District High School Jazz Band. Donation at the Door with all proceeds going to RDHS Instrument Repair Fund. Light Refreshments.

Sponsored by The Centre for Creative Learning.

Event Date:
Saturday April 30th, 2016 at 7 p.m

Where :
At Westport United Church

Contact :
Westport Arts Council

Come early for the best selection of locally grown perennials, delicious baked goods, Mother’s Day gifts, attic treasures. Rain or shine.

Bring your friends, great prices and expert advice from garden club members.

Founded in 1924, the Westport Garden Club of Westport, CT, consists of 50 members who are united by an interest in gardening, a desire to further their gardening knowledge, and a desire to beautify the Town of Westport.

The mission of the Club is to further members’ interest in and knowledge of gardening, horticulture, and flower design; to participate in civic beautification and to promote conservation and environmental education.

Affiliated with the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut, Inc., and the National Garden Clubs, Inc., we support the beautification of Westport through the maintenance of several gardens throughout town, and through financial support to various civic organizations.

Date :
Friday, May 6, 2016 from 9.30 am to 1.30 p.m

Location event :
Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road East, Westport.

Contact :
For further details, please visit: http://westportgardenclub.org/

Celebrate May Day with the Altruistic Band  performing soul, jazz, gospel, R&B and pop.

Altruistic is a band comprised of musicians from many different walks of life. Their sound can be described as “Gumbo” combining the musical styles of Latin, Contemporary, Fusion, and Straight-ahead Jazz with Funk, R&B and Gospel rhythms.

Led by Al Thomas, the group consists of the following members: Alfred Thomas Jr., flute/vocals; Pat Williams, guitar/vocals; David Ramsey, drums; Donnell Roberts, bass; and John Davis, keyboards. The band collectively has numerous years of experience and has played venues all over the Eastern Seaboard.

Members of the band have played with and/or opened for artists such as: Najee, Marion Meadows, Branford Marsalis, Alex Bugnon, Pieces of a Dream, the late Dizzy Gillespie, Mary Mary, Donny McClurkin, The Winans, Be Be & CeCe, and Tonex.

Date :
Sunday, May 1, 2016 from 2 to 3 p.m

Location event :
The Westport Library 20 Jesup Road Westport, CT 06880.(McManus Room)

Contact :
For more info visit westportlibrary.org.

A popular day for gifts of flowers and greeting cards.

Many Canadians celebrate Mother’s Day by showing their appreciation for mothers or mother figures. The Mother’s Day date in Canada is on the second Sunday of May each year.

What Do People Do?

Many people in Canada express their gratitude towards mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day. It is the time for people to thank mothers and mother figures who took the time care for them and help them through life’s challenges.

Carnations are a popular Mother’s Day symbol in both Canada and the United States. Some people may choose to wear a carnation as a brooch on Mother’s Day. However, other flowers are also given to mothers or mother figures to symbolize one’s love and appreciation for them.

Date :
May 8, 2016 | all day

Location event :
Westport, ON  Canada

RIDEAU LAKES HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY presents speaker Joanna Kowalczyk – The Art and Science of Pruning starting at 7:15pm at the Portland Community Hall. All Welcome! ($5.00 admission for non-members)

The Society provides free refreshments and door prizes, as well as information and advice on all your gardening needs.

Opening in 2000, with only one section of the debris-filled foundation of a collapsed dairy barn cleared and a few newly planted gardens, the Walls have gone on to create a destination that provides a unique gardening experience.

Finding the weather in our area to include fairly significant droughts and hot spells, the Walls decided to focus on long-blooming, drought tolerant, lower maintenance succulents and alpines. They seek rare and unusual seeds from around the world and not normally found in the retail trade, which they germinate, grow in their gardens and observe for a year before offering to their customers. They also offer workshops in hypertufa containers and decorative leaf art, which you can use as water features, birdbaths, planting containers and stepping stones.

Judy Wall trained in Horticulture at University of Guelph and is a Lanark County Master Gardener. She is the Past President of the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden and Horticultural Society, and a member of the North American and Ontario Rock Garden Societies.

Date :
May 4, 2016 at 7.15 p.m

Location event :
24 Water St, Portland, On. (Portland Community Hall)

Contact :
John Carley 613-359-6031

WAC Some Kind of Choir will be in concert at the North Crosby Hall at 7pm, on April 30th. Special guests will be the Rideau District High School Jazz Band! Donation at the door. All proceeds go to RDHS instrument repair program! A great night of song and music! All welcomed!

Premier SOME KIND OF CHOIR Concert
30 April 2016  –  7pm  – North Crosby Hall
Donations at the door. All proceeds to RDHS instrument repair.

Event Date:
April 30th, 2016 @ 7:00 p.m

Event place :
North Crosby Hall
Westport, ON

APRIL 19 – RURAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION 4th ANNUAL GO-GO EVENT (Let’s Get Out into the Great Outdoors) will be held in the Beckwith Township Recreation Complex. Theme this spring is “Investing in Recreation Creative Partnerships and Capital Infrastructure”.  Guest speakers, outdoor activities and scrumptious lunch is available for a very reasonable rate – Rural Recreation

A half day workshop on Capital Infrastructure – Creating Partnerships and Local Foundations
This education day is open to new and existing members – Municipal staff and leaders, educators, service providers, recreation leaders, and all those involved in Recreation and Outdoor experiences. Please pass this invitation onto anyone who may be interested.

9:00 a.m. Registration & Refreshments
Program: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Light lunch to follow)
Capital Infrastructure – Creative Partnerships
•    NBA Cares – Augusta St Park and Naismith Basketball Project
•    Gerry Lowe Memorial Sens “Rink of Dreams”
Foundations
•    Creating Local Foundations – Types, Benefits and Local Success Stories
•    Additionally
•    An opportunity to Network
•    Actual time to experience outdoor recreation – Basketball; Trails; Multipurpose Sports Field Activities
•    Dress appropriately for these outdoor activities for temperature, rain or shine
Association (RRA) members $30.00, non-members $40.00 which will include your 2016 membership dues! Open to folks who work, volunteer and play with people of all ages.

Registration is a MUST
Registration deadline:
Tuesday, April 12th, 2016

Save the date :
April 19th, 2016 at 9 am

Location event:
Beckwith Recreation Complex – 1319,  9th Line Beckwith
(off Hwy #15 at Blacks Corners)
Carleton Place, ON

For further details, please contact Sue at 1-800-928-2250 or rra@healthunit.org
Or see www.healthyllg.org/events.html

RIDEAU LAKES HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY presents speaker Judy Wall – Alpines, Succulents & Rocky Plants starting at 7:15pm at the Portland Community Hall. All Welcome! ($5.00 admission for non-members).

The Society provides free refreshments and door prizes, as well as information and advice on all your gardening needs.

Opening in 2000, with only one section of the debris-filled foundation of a collapsed dairy barn cleared and a few newly planted gardens, the Walls have gone on to create a destination that provides a unique gardening experience.

Finding the weather in our area to include fairly significant droughts and hot spells, the Walls decided to focus on long-blooming, drought tolerant, lower maintenance succulents and alpines. They seek rare and unusual seeds from around the world and not normally found in the retail trade, which they germinate, grow in their gardens and observe for a year before offering to their customers. They also offer workshops in hypertufa containers and decorative leaf art, which you can use as water features, birdbaths, planting containers and stepping stones.

Judy Wall trained in Horticulture at University of Guelph and is a Lanark County Master Gardener. She is the Past President of the Ottawa Valley Rock Garden and Horticultural Society, and a member of the North American and Ontario Rock Garden Societies.

Date :
April 6, 2016 from 7 :15 pm to 9 pm

Location event:
24 Water St, Portland, On. (Portland Community Hall)

Contact name :
Marsha Ferguson at 613-273-8557 or via mail : marferg@aol.com