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TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2006

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Frenchman/Hanmer/Joe/Dixon Lakes Ratepayers' Association Known Otherwise As The Valley East Ratepayers' Association Holds Impressive Annual General Meeting

The Notre Dame de/Our Lady of Fatima Chapel at the junction of Joe, Hanmer, Dixon and Frenchman Lakes, was the site of the 2006 Annual General Meeting of what has come to be known publicly as the Valley East Ratepayers' Association on Sunday, July 23, 2006. Dozens of property owners from the lakes gathered to celebrate mass and then take care of the formalities of selecting representatives from each lake who would form the executive for the next year.
In the photo above, the crowd in attendance listen to Claude (one of the residents) give a presentation on septic tank systems. He is a Health Inspector by profession with the Sudbury District Health Unit and was asked to help residents understand the importance of proper use, maintenance and installation of septic systems around the lakes. Protecting the environment is a major priority of the Association.
Agathe Dube, shown on the left, was presiding at her final Annual General Meeting as President of the Association. After having sat on the Executive for the entire eight years she has lived on Joe Lake, the past six of which in the role of President, Agathe was unfortunately moving out of the area for personal reasons. She expressed her sadness at having to leave the area and was given a very warm send-off by the group present that afternoon.

"This is such a wonderful group of people living on the lakes in this region," Agathe explained. "Everyone gets along with each other and we are all so supportive of each other's needs. It has been a truly amazing experience for me to be President of the Valley East Ratepayers' Association for the past six years. I've always received help and assistance whenever it was needed. It is going to be sad to leave."

John Rodriguez, a resident of Joe Lake and a member of the "Constitution Committee", made a presentation to the group on the activities of his committee. 

One of the elements of the Constitution that received considerable discussion was a proposal to investigate a "Name Change" for the Association.

Originally, the group was, and is still known in the constitution, as The Frenchman/Hanmer/Joe/Dixon Lakes Ratepayers' Association. Over the years, it has become known to many as the Valley East Ratepayers' Association (VERA).

Some members wanted to consider changing the name to better reflect the nature of the group, but a motion which would have initiated a year-long study to come up with a number of name options was defeated at the meeting.

Other things that were discussed included concerns among residents about keeping the taxes of property owners in line with the level of services being provided to the lakefront owners. While many feel that their services have improved a lot since amalgamation, others are not convinced that they are receiving full value for the amount of money they are paying in property taxes.  The condition of the roads leading to the lakes was also a problem that was expressed.

At the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting, all of the members stepped outside where they enjoyed some time socializing while eating barbecued hot dogs and hamburgers. It was obvious that the people in attendance felt strong sense of community among their group. Many indicted that having a "common element" such as all being "lakefront property owners" was one of the main ingredients which has kept everyone so close over the years.
 
Moving Into A New Home or Apartment In Valley East or Capreol? Don't Forget To Pick Up Your "Welcome Home Gift Basket" 

When it comes to people who are new to the community, there are two business owners who tend to meet them all. Of course we are referring to Mike Lemieux, who along with his brother, Mag Lemieux, own Hanmer Home Hardware, and Ken Desjardins, owner of Desjardins' Food Basics.

"Everyone moving in to a new home or apartment has a need for cleaning and repair supplies as well as start-up groceries," explained Mike Lemieux. "So Ken and I decided that we would put together a basket of 'goodies' to give as a gift to all newcomers to Valley East as our way of saying 'Thank You for choosing our town' and to give them a hand with settling in."

Ken Desjardins owns and operates one of the busiest grocery stores in the entire City of Greater Sudbury, so he has definitely noticed the impact of new home owners in the community. "When it comes to stocking up the shelves after moving into a new home, we know it is expensive. We also know that those first few days are days when you are constantly discovering additional items for your shopping list. The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre is a great place to come to pick up just about everything you need to make your move complete, so we wanted to say thank you for your support."

Anyone who has moved into a new home; purchased an older home; or moved into an apartment in the Towns of Valley East or Capreol since July 1, 2006, is encouraged to drop in to see Mike Lemieux at Hanmer Home Hardware in the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. He will answer any questions you may have about the community and make sure you receive your gift basket. Several other mall merchants will be adding to the gift basket with items of their own, including Dixie Lee Restaurant which will be providing you with a $25 gift certificate so that you can eat out after your move in.

For More Information on the Welcome Home Gift Basket
Call Mike Lemieux at (705) 969-7000
or email Robert Kirwan at robert@kirwan.ca 

WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
WHO HAVE RECENTLY MOVED INTO VALLEY EAST

Patti & Sean Carroll Juliet Wice Devra Kneblewski
Pascal & Lynn Lapointe Michel & Nicole Lavallee Arik Theijsmeijer & Melanie Hunt
Michael & Paulette Gies Julie & Steve Smeltzer Jackie & Eddy Dutrisac
Dan Beatty Jennifer Del Papa Greta Lane
Dave Patry Eileen Williams Sharon Neelands
Daniella Stuewer Norm & Diane Lefebvre Steve Arsenault
Dan Rose Joan Dufour Dan & Tina MacNeil
Mary & Dennis Hull Verna Raciborski Marc & Judy Paquette
Luc Jennings Tim Ranger & Amanda Labelle Linda & Emanual Brunet
 

Northern Ontario

FASTPITCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

AUGUST 18, 19, 20 2006

$4,500.00

IN CASH AND PRIZES

BASED ON 36 TEAMS ENTERED

3 GAMES GUARANTEE

ENTRY FEE:  $400.00

$380.00 EARLY REGISTRATION

BEFORE AUGUST 1ST

MAKE CHEQUE PAYABLE TO:

NORTHERN ONTARIO  FASTPITCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

                                        ROGER  705-969-7268

                                                        705-691-7268

                                        LARRY   705-897-1444

The tournament is filling quickly with already teams committed to come from the Ottawa, Barrie, Huntsville, North Bay, Mississauga, Toronto, Sault Ste. Marie, Manitoulin Island, the North Shore as well as local teams. Tournament organizers are expecting 14 ladies and 20 mens teams when action gets under way. At the present time all games are being scheduled for play at the Rick McDonald Memorial Sports Complex in Azilda and Cote Park in Chelmsford. A fifth field, if necessary will be used at Blezard Valley. A dance will be held on Saturday evening featuring "Retroactive", with band leader none other than the present league leading hitter Moe Coutu from the Dog House North Stars. There will be a minimum charge at the door for the dance.

There will be individual MVP awards for the first round robin game to both teams. A food vendor will be on the site and there will also be commemorative t-shirts, sweat tops and hoodies. Anyone interested in entering the tournament should contact Roger Legendre, Convenor

er_legendre@sympatico.ca

   
Keep The Spirit Alive Contest Is Being Well-Received By Local Residents 

   The "Keep The Spirit Alive Contest" was only introduced to the community during the month of June, and already it is picking up momentum as residents not only like the idea of winning valuable prizes, but they also are thrilled about the fact that they can do their small part to help improve the overall community spirit in Valley East and Capreol.

   Three community-minded local businessmen have teamed up to begin a “Keep The Spirit Alive Campaign” and they are inviting all residents to help them spread the message that Valley East is a great place in which to live!

   From left to right in the photo: Mike Lemieux, owner of Hanmer Home Hardware, Robert Kirwan, Publisher of the Valley East Today Community Web Site, and Ken Desjardins of Desjardins’ Food Basics announced the launch of the campaign during a press conference which was held at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre.

   In explaining the purpose of the initiative, Kirwan explained, “We want to let everyone know that Valley East is a town where you can still find that “old style community spirit” mixed with a modern lifestyle that fits right in with the 21st Century. There are a lot of good things happening in Valley East and it is about time that the rest of the people in the City of Greater Sudbury knew about it. Furthermore, it is also time to let the rest of the province know that if anyone is looking for a place to live and raise a family, or a place to retire within the City of Greater Sudbury , they need look no further than Valley East .”
  
   In order to help get this message out to the rest of the “world” the people of Valley East are being asked to take part in a massive communication strategy using the power of the internet. 

   Everyone participating in this campaign will have a chance to win a “Grand Prize” consisting of 100 Lotto 649 tickets for the New Year’s Eve Draw on December 31, 2006 . What a way to celebrate the New Year by winning the big prize with one of those tickets!

   Runners up will receive other valuable prizes, including “two” mountain bikes donated by Hanmer Home Hardware, $300 in groceries from Desjardins’ Food Basics, More prizes from other local merchants may be announced in the coming weeks before the contest ends. 

   In order to qualify for these prizes, all you have to do is register to receive the Valley East Today Weekly Online News Magazine. Every month from July until the end of December, ten names will be drawn at random from all of the people registered to receive the publication. Those ten people will qualify for our final draw which will be held on Christmas Eve. The winners will be announced in the December 26 issue of Valley East Today!

   Once you register, the Valley East Today Online Weekly News Magazine, which is currently being received by over 2000 people, will be sent directly to your email address every Tuesday.  Not only will you qualify to win the 100 Lotto 649 tickets or other runner up prizes, but more importantly, you can help us  “Keep the Spirit Alive” by forwarding Valley East Today to everyone on your own personal mailing list. By using the power of the internet, we can let tens of thousands of people know about Valley East every week.

CONTEST QUALIFIERS
People who have already qualified for the Grand Prizes in the 
Keep The Spirit Alive Contest. These names will be placed in a drum along with ten additional qualifiers chosen each month until December 2006.

QUALIFIERS 

FOR THE 

MONTH OF 

JUNE 2006

#0065        Chantal Proulx

#0133        Marilyn Liske

#0384        Bernadette Mrochek

#0411        Cathy Bellefeuille

#0446        Gaston Boisvoneault

#0690        Carol Mailloux

#1057        Glynis Cappadocia

#1228        Shelly Pelland

#1318        Nicky Blais

#1827        Michelle Wiebes

QUALIFIERS 

FOR THE 

MONTH OF 

JULY 2006

#80            Kim Dwyer

#154          Lana Ranger

#255          Karen Lische

#288          Rebecca Ogilvy

#886          Chris Coulombe

#1086        Brian Koivu

#1194        Jessica Rienguette

#1979        Corina Gavin

#1993        Lynn Poulin

#2006        Linda Dubois

The names of the above people who are already subscribed to the Valley East Today Online Weekly News Magazine will be entered as finalists in the contest. The sooner you register, the more chances you have of being selected as one of the ten monthly finalists. On December 24, 2006, one person will win 100 Lotto 649 tickets, while runners up will win other valuable prizes. Make sure your friends all enter the contest and help us "Keep the Spirit Alive".

ARE YOU RECEIVING VALLEY EAST TODAY EVERY WEEK?
THEN CONGRATULATIONS - YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED
YOU QUALIFY FOR THE CONTEST!

NOT REGISTERED YET?????

TO QUALIFY FOR THE CONTEST
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SEND US AN EMAIL BELOW
ALONG WITH YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER

  

Applications Now Being Taken For Positions At
CANADIAN TIRE VALLEY EAST

Residents of Valley East and Capreol are advised that applications are now being accepted for positions at the new Canadian Tire Valley East store. Currently the company needs people for set-up and merchandising. Staff and supervisory positions are also available in all retail departments, logistics, cash and the service centre. Auto technicians and installers are also required.

Applications can be dropped off or mailed to:

JOB CONNECT/CONNECTION EMPLOI
62 Frood Rd., Suite 114
Sudbury, Ontario P3C 4Z3
Fax Number: (705) 673-9341

Or you can email your resume to one of the following email addresses:

maperry@cambrianc.on.ca or emdaoust@borealc.on.ca 

  
With New Border Requirements On The Horizon Many People Travelling To The United States May Soon Need Passports
Since Ron Gladu Photos is one of the very few, if not the only place in Valley East, where a person can get a passport photo taken, he is extremely busy providing this service to local residents who travel out of the country.

"There doesn't seem to be a slow time of year for passport photos," explained Ron. "People are travelling at all times of the year, and countries are getting very particular about their requirements when it comes to passports. We do between 25 and 30 passport photos a week, so there are a lot of people travelling from Valley East and Capreol."

At first glance it would appear that taking a photo for your passport is a relatively simple procedure. However, after speaking to Ron about this, it is obvious why so many people complain about having their passport applications rejected because of improper photos.

"One of the things I am particularly proud of is that we are so sure that our photos will be accepted that we will guarantee our work. If your photo is ever rejected, we will do another one for you free of charge," explained Ron. "We have a special section of our studio all set up for these photos with the required three lights so that there are no shadows. We have a plain white background and we remind our clients that they cannot wear a white top when they take the photo. For individuals who have white hair, we have a special "hair light" (shown in the insert) that separates the subject from the background so that you can tell where the hair ends and the background begins. It is absolutely critical that you do not smile, or even have any opening between your lips. Your lips must be pressed together. The photo may be taken in black and white or in colour, but we take all of ours in colour. And it must be the right size with a proper stamp on the back."

A photo can be rejected for violations of any of the above criteria, so it is important that everything be done right the first time. "It might take a few weeks for an application to be processed, so it is extremely frustrating for a person to have it rejected because of an improper photo. That means you have to take another picture, get another signature from a guarantor, who sometimes charges you for this service, and then send it off again.

Ron Gladu Photos also take photographs for the F.A.C. Gun registry, citizenship applications and also for work VISA's. 

  For more information>>>>>

Grotto of Our Lourdes Is Going To Become One Of The Major Attractions In Northeastern Ontario By The Time The Restructuring Project Is Completed

Nestled in the heart of Greater Sudbury, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine is celebrating its 100th Anniversary in the year 2007. The Grotto, was commissioned by a mining explorer from France, Frederic Romanet du Caillaud, as a tribute to Our Lady of Lourdes for the recovery of his wife from an illness in 1907. Situated on 5.1 acres of beautiful parkland, the Grotto provides visitors with a retreat from everyday life and an opportunity to explore the Judeo-Christian heritage, a history of humanity. The official celebration will take place on August 15, 2007. 

There will also be a calendar of centennial events posted on the official web site that will take us through the entire year. You can visit the web site here >>>>>

We are sure you will enjoy the beauty and splendor of the garden and will understand why this is such a popular place of reflection for so many of our local residents and visitors.

The little monuments you see along the side of the hill above are devotions to special events that occurred in the life of Our Holy Mother, Mary.

When Our blessed Mother appeared to young St. Bernadette in 1858, she changed the life of this peasant girl. She has also changed the lives of many others who seek her healing intercession under her miraculous title, Our Lady of Lourdes.

Through the power of God, Our Lady of Lourdes offers comfort, hope and often healing. Bernadette returned to the Sacred Grotto many times to witness Our Lady of Lourdes' presence. Local residents and visitors to the Greater Sudbury Region can now turn to Our Blessed Mother time and time again, seeking her presence and her quiet strength. She is with us, always knowing our pain and fears - always embracing our needs.

The cement path winds its way along the magnificent garden, bringing you closer and closer to the Grotto site.

Frederic Romanet du Caillaud, made his residence in Sudbury between 1902 and 1914. A native of Limoges, France, he owned vast parcels of land in downtown Sudbury. One day, as his wife lay seriously ill, he promised to build a grotto in Mary's honour if she was cured. A bronze statue was commissioned from the Denonville Founderie in France. A 20 foot grotto, containing a nine foot magnificent statue of Mary was completed on August 22, 1907.

An iron fence was constructed in front of the statue which contains the name:  Regina Gallorum (Queen of the Gauls)

The statues of The Stations of the Cross were erected by the Rosary Club in 1954. During the 1950's thousands of people gathered to pay homage to the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine and walk among the statues erected on the site overlooking Lake Ramsay and the City's downtown section. 

One feels a tremendous sense of anticipation as you near the Grotto and see the benches that have been put in place for worshipers.

It is a tranquil retreat and a powerful reminder of the dramatic events that surrounded the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The mile long gravel trail winds its way among statues and peaceful garden scenes where one can focus their spiritual thoughts and to reflect upon their personal condition and needs. The hill is crowned with a monumental crucifix embedded in a concrete platform. 

The Grotto is an artistic and historic site which is a must to see by everyone who travels through this city. Not just for its religious significance, but for the sheer beauty and magnificence of the area. One finally arrives in front of Our Holy Mother to experience the sense of peace and inspiration that so many others have felt for 100 years at this very same spot. The vision of St. Theresa kneeling in prayer at the foot of the Grotto is in itself inspiring.

FOR MORE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
WWW.GROTTOSUDBURY.COM

  

Comments From Our Readers Are Always Welcome And Will Help Us Make Valley East Today Even More Useful

Comments from our readers are always appreciated. In fact, many of the changes and additions we make are a direct result of suggestions and questions that have come from local residents through this forum. Our goal is to create a Community Web Site that is a comprehensive reference source for everyone, and to provide a Weekly Online News Magazine that captures the living history of Valley East and Capreol.

We want to thank all of the people who take the time to send in comments. In order to protect the privacy of our readers, it is our policy to omit the names of our readers, unless you give us specific permission to print your name. We hope you enjoy some of the comments sent in this week.

Dear Editor:

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy receiving your weekly News Magazine. The stories and articles are just fantastic and really help me keep up with what is happening in Valley East. I really enjoy the pictures. They are absolutely amazing. It is so nice to see a web site that is filled with photos instead of just writing. Keep up the good work!

Reader from Hanmer

 
Dear Editor:

We just moved into Val Therese and love it here. I want to thank you for sending us the Valley East Today Newsletter during the last few months. It gave us a lot of information that we could use to help us feel more comfortable with our decision to come to the Sudbury area.

Reader from Southern Ontario

 
Dear Editor:

I really enjoy your website Robert. I can't wait to read all about Valley East and its people. I have been living here a long time since coming here from Gaspe Quebec as a young girl. I hope to continue living here for a long time. Thank you for bringing my town into my home. Keep up the good work.                    

From a local resident

 
Hello Mr. Kirwan:
  
You should warn people BEFORE they begin reading your ezine. "Get yourself a nice cool lemonade and set yourself down comfortably because you are going to be here a long while." I read VALLEY EAST TODAY (VET) each week BUT I don't always take the time to read all the side bars. I made the mistake of doing that today. 
WOW! VET IS LOADED!
If you intend to do the same thorough job as a councillor in the Nov. Elections we can't go wrong.
Many thanks for all you do.
I am also impressed with all the contributors and their generosity. Can I go away for a holiday and come back as a new member of the community? I want one of those 'Welcoming" baskets. I have also entered the contest and plan on visiting a few of the businesses. We do have s-o-o-o-o much in our community. Your support and encouragement have made us the envy of many cities.
Thank you Mr. Kirwan and all who make the VALLEY EAST TODAY the wonderful instrument that connects and informs us all.

From a local resident of Hanmer

 
Mr. Kirwan:

The article on Andrea Martin (July 17) was truly amazing. You captured her personality and made all of us want to go out and meet this wonderful lady. It is nice to have a publication like Valley East Today that used modern technology to let us know about the great people living in this community. The beauty of the internet is that we can continue to go back to these articles months from now. I look forward to future editions so that I can read about all of the people in Valley East who are like Andrea.

Resident of Val Caron

  

MEET

OUR

SPONSORS

The Valley East Today Weekly Online News Magazine and Community Web Site are being made available free of charge to local residents through the support provided by the following businesses and organizations. 

You are encouraged to take time to visit their web sites, which can be linked by clicking on each of the individual names listed below. 

On behalf of all who are enjoying the feature articles on this newsletter, we express our deepest gratitude to our sponsors.

FROM THE HANMER VALLEY SHOPPING CENTRE
Beswick Denture Clinic
Hart Department Store
VCCNet.ca Internet Solutions
Sole Mates Family Footwear
Desjardins' Food Basics
Pet Palace
The Source by Circuit City
Hanmer Home Hardware
Stan Thomas Solicitor
Drs. Dunlop & Labrecque Optometrists
Lou's Shoe Repair
Valley Plaza Barber Shop
Glamorous You
The Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre


FROM VAL CARON
Hanson Family Dentistry
Heatwave Tanning Salon
Fantastic Floors

FROM VAL THERESE
Ron Gladu Photos
 
FROM HANMER
Masciangelo Motors
 
FROM CAPREOL
Drago Men's Wear
 
FROM SUDBURY
Reliable Security
Masciangelo Motors
Sudbury Rent-A-Home
O'Malley's Rent-A-Pub

ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

If you are looking for a business in Hanmer or Val Caron, you should be able to find it on the Online Business Directory.  
  

 WELCOME TO PAGE THREE
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 2006

Return to Front Page Return to Page Two
  
 

Published by
INFOCOM CANADA BUSINESS CONSULTANTS INC.
Robert Kirwan, President & C.E.O.
4456 Noel Crescent, Val Therese ON P3P 1S8
Phone: (705) 969-7215    
EMAIL   rkirwan@infocomcanada.com