Port Williams News

The 75th anniversary of the Apple Blossom Festival will long be remembered in Port Williams with its Princess 2007 Kara Scallion being chosen Second Lady-in-Waiting, and the successful reunion of former princesses Port Williams.

The details of the reunion can be read elsewhere in The Advertiser so I’m going to focus here on our princess and the Royal visit.

Congratulations again to Kara. She and Claire looked great on our float, which had as its theme the dreams made possible by higher education.

The audience for the Welcome Home Reception and Royal Visit filled the auditorium. Lewis Benedict, Chair of the Village Commission, welcomed and introduced the Royal Party. Queen Annapolisa Kathryn Cleveland and Festival president Sally Swanburg Wallace spoke briefly.

Doug Gates, President, Port Williams and District Lions Club, presented ABF President Sally Swanburg Wallace with the booster club contribution from Village businesses that was collected by Club members and far exceeded the Festival’s requested contribution. Elinor Miller, president of the Library Association, presented our princess with a lifetime membership.

In Kara’s speech during the Royal visit Sunday afternoon, she reminded everyone how important family was to her and made all of her new sisters honourary residents of the village. Kara refered to child attendant Claire Newbery as her new little sister (she had never had one before) and closed by saying, “we rock it here in Port Williams.” Talented young violinist Sara MacLeod enchanted the crowd with her music.

The PowerPoint presentation by Ken Bezanson and Sarah Sabean to the music of Lucas Porter's “Port Williams Overture” blended historic photos of the village with photos of princesses and their floats from 1939 to the present and was met with great applause. The program concluded with a piano performance by Porter.

Afterwards, everyone had the opportunity to mingle with the Royal party and former Princesses.

Port Williams Baseball Club will run a baseball program again this year for students in Grades 1-4. Contact Kevin or Jennifer at 542-7940 to register. It will run this year from the middle of June until the beginning of August.

The annual general meeting (its one and only of the year) of the members of the Murdoch C. Smith Memorial Library Association with be held in the library’s Reading Room of the Community Centre Wed., June 27 at 8 p.m.

The funds that Murdoch C. Smith left to the village to build a library keep on giving and giving, as money is available each year for special projects to benefit the library. Some past initiatives included: CD-ROMs for children and adults, videos, audiobooks and, most recently, a new Teen corner with its feature anime and DVD collection (the largest permanent one in the Valley). Come and get involved in our library.

The blood donor clinic for our area will be held Wed., June 20 and Thurs., June 21 at the Kentville Fire Hall. There are two sessions: 1-3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.

You can book an appointment by calling 1-888-2 DONATE (236-6283) or just drop in. Remember to bring ID with your full names and signature of full name and photo. New donors welcome.

EMS: The final band concert will be held Wed., June 13 at 7 p.m.

Baptist Church: Daily Vacation Bible School will take place this year from Aug. 7-10. Block off this time on your calendar now and get in on the action in August.

Greenwich United Church: There will be an indoor yard sale June 16 from 8 a.m. to noon. On June 23, the Pastoral charge will hold a Home and Garden Show with stops from Canning to Grand Pre.

The Greenwich Church will host the tea at which participants may stop along the way. Tickets are $25 and available at the St. Andrew’s Church office.