Port Williams news

The Port Williams Remembrance Day Observance took place on a balmy Nov. 9 at our newly refurbished Veterans’ Memorial.

Participants of the well-attended ceremony were welcomed by Rev. David Garrett of St. John’s Anglican Church.

Soldiers of the West Nova Scotia Regiment marched the colours on and off and provided the vigil. Ken Bezanson and Lindsay Rand provided musical accompaniment for the ceremony. Firefighters Robert McKinnon and Ernie Zinck raised and lowered the flags. Rand played the Last Post and the Reveille, which followed the two minutes of silence. Rev. David Ogilvie of the Baptist Church read the names of the fallen and led everyone in the Act of Remembrance and the prayers.

Wreaths were placed on behalf of veterans by Harvey Keddy, on behalf of the war brides by Mary Keddy, on behalf of the Village by Commission chair Lewis Benedict, on behalf of the provincial government by MLA Mark Parent, on behalf of the municipal government by Coun. Janet Newton, and on behalf of the Lions by Cameron Porter.

Refreshments were served in the multipurpose room after the ceremony. On display were two books, The Unknown Soldier by Linda Granfield and Passchendaele : an Illustrated History, by Norman Leach, which were donated to our library as part of the yearlong celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Dr. Murdoch C. Smith Memorial Library.

Thanks to money received from the Democracy 250 initiative we were able to have the memorial plaque remade to include new names on our list of war dead and on the list of those who served. There was also some landscaping done. On the list of the fallen from our village you will see that village has the distinction of being the hometown of George Price who was the last soldier killed in World War I, just 2 minutes before the Armistice. As well, of Mary Clerk Peake, who was the first Nova Scotian woman and perhaps first Canadian to be killed on active service. She was driving an ambulance when she was killed during an air raid.

When there are so many fallen soldiers of whom we are thinking on Remembrance Day, it is wonderful to hear that Corporal Evan Hobbs is safely home from his eight-month deployment in Afghanistan. Evan, a welder living in Edmonton, is an Army Reservist with the First Combat Engineer Field Regiment, 12 Field Squadron whose motto is “First in--last out.” He volunteered for tour of duty and went overseas in Feb. of this year. While there, he led a group of soldiers whose job was the location and disarmament of land mines.

His mother, Jose Pelletier, would like to thank everyone in Port Williams for their support and prayers for Evan. He returned to Canada in Sept. and recently made a surprise visit home. She said that Evan and his fellow soldiers really appreciated the Community Support book (which she bound with tartan)h with everyone’s signatures, kind thoughts and words of encouragement. --

An open house to celebrate the 85th birthday of Gertrude MacKenzie will take place Sunday, Nov. 23, from 2-4 p.m. in the hall at the Baptist Church. Drop in to congratulate Gertrude and have a piece of birthday cake. Best wishes only. --

Let's Plan A Park! The Port Williams Park Planning Committee (a subcommittee of the Recreation Committee), would like to invite the residents of Port Williams to attend an open house in the multipurpose room at the Community Centre Saturday, Nov. 29. The purpose of the open house is to obtain your feedback as to what you, a resident of Port Williams, would like in a community park.

Perhaps you would like, maintained walking paths, a quiet place to sit and read your book, luscious green space for your family to picnic, or safe play equipment for youngsters that allows them to socialize with other children while getting exercise.

Please drop in any time between the hours of 10 a.m. - noon, or 2- 4 p.m. and give us your feedback. Children are welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, please contact Lia Glover at, 542-9648. In the meantime, join us on Facebook! You can find us under: Port Williams Community Park. --

The annual PWES Santa Breakfast will take place Saturday, Nov. 29, from 8:30-11 a.m. Delicious pancakes and sausage will be served. Freewill offering. Tickets will be sold on a Family Christmas sock. --

There will be a Variety Show at the Community Centre Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. featuring Sara Burgess, Caroll Edwards, Chris Parker & Friends, and Stillwater with sound by Dave Arenburg. Admission is $5. There will be a canteen and 50/50 draw. Come and enjoy an evening of good music!! Proceeds for the Lions Club’s community service projects. --

Baptist Church:

There will be an Advent Bible Study held on Tues. evenings from 7-8:30 p.m. and Wed. afternoons from 2-3:30 p.m. starting on Nov. 25/26 and going until Dec. 16/17. If interested please sign up on sheet in hallway or give Rev. Johnson a call at 542-5314.

EMS: The Scholastic Book Fair hosted by the EMS library will be held from Nov. 24 to 28 this year. Books may be purchased all day Thurs. and Fri. as well as Thurs. evening during parent/teacher interviews. All profits from this book fair will be used to buy new library books.

Horton High School: The yearbook will be on sale during Parent-Teacher Visitation (Thursday, Nov. 20 7-9 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 21 1:30-3:30 p.m.).A Christmas gift package, including a card for under the tree, will be available for the pre-sale price of $32. For $5 more a copy of the 2008 yearbook will go under the tree as well. Horton apparel will be on sale during Parent-Teacher Visitation. All items will be available for pickup before Christmas Break.