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Frenchman/Hanmer/Joe/Dixon Lakes
Ratepayers' Association Known Otherwise As The Valley East
Ratepayers' Association Holds Impressive Annual General Meeting |
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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Moving
Into A New Home or Apartment In Valley East or Capreol? Don't Forget
To Pick Up Your "Welcome Home Gift Basket" |
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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Keep
The Spirit Alive Contest Is Being Well-Received By Local
Residents
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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.
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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. |
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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". |
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ARE YOU RECEIVING VALLEY EAST
TODAY EVERY WEEK?
THEN CONGRATULATIONS - YOU ARE ALREADY REGISTERED
YOU QUALIFY FOR THE CONTEST! |
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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
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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 |
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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>>>>> |
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Grotto of Our Lourdes Is Going To
Become One Of The Major Attractions In Northeastern Ontario By The
Time The Restructuring Project Is Completed |
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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.
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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.
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FOR MORE PHOTOS AND INFORMATION
WWW.GROTTOSUDBURY.COM
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Comments From Our Readers Are
Always Welcome And Will Help Us Make Valley East Today Even More
Useful |
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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.
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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