Huntsville Forester

A McKellar fair and auction worth your while in more ways that one: To all patrons of the McKellar Library and fair attendees, on Saturday, Sept. 8, don’t miss out on checking the library’s silent auction from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Full of surprises and delightful treats, it will blow you away.  
Be there for great bargains.  As usual, the library will also have their sale of an abundance of good, used books and magazines.  Newest releases available in the library include The Grey series, A Good Hard Look and Why Men Lie.
The Whitestone McKellar Lions Club has installed collection boxes at the Whitestone Nursing Station, Whitestone Library and the McKellar Library for all the used eye glasses that you no longer need. These glasses are sorted, cleaned, graded and then sent on to needy people in developing countries. We welcome your contributions at these locations.
Are you ready for the big one?
As one moves about McKellar, Parry Sound and surrounding areas one may notice posters and signage relating to McKellar Conservation Association’s (MCA) Big Fish Classic Fishing Tournament.
As a potential participant mark Sept. 21 and 22 on your calendar to be out on Lake Manitouwabing where your large walleye, pike or bass may net you $1,000 prize money. In addition to these major prizes $30 cash prizes (one prize per person only) are offered for the next descending sequential 35 heaviest catches. That’s $4,050 in cash prizes. Yet there’s more. Your $60 registration fee ($40 for kids under 14) purchased before midnight Sept 9, includes a chance to win the hidden weight prize for fish over two pounds sponsored by Glenwood Cottages on Lake Manitouwabing, and a full roast beef dinner and prize ceremony to be held at the McKellar Community Centre at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22.
Registration may be made locally and in person - in McKellar at Manitouwabing Taxidermy, 6 Catherine St. and at Tony Agnello’s Divers Nook, 55 Bowes Street. in Parry Sound.
For further information and/or to register by mail and rules literature go to www.mckellarconservationassociation.ca or phone Steve Bradley 705 389 2666 or Lesley and Al Last at 705 389 1786.
MCA extends a thank you to McKellar Township councillor Jury Naklowych (Digital Designs) for his donation of time and material’s in updating our signs.
Where there’s smoke, there’s black powder
When Doug Meadows, in-house historian for the Parry Sound Anglers and Hunters, gave an historical account of three battles fought in the War of 1812, a young American lad from New Jersey stated, “We never learned about that war in our American history classes.”
As Meadows put it, ‘they lost and Upper Canada was created. It was somewhat like the first American civil war in that there were Americans fighting on both sides,” Mike Corson expressed.
About 60 visitors, chose to immerse themselves, in a part of our history thanks to the efforts and invitation of the (PSAH), who offered guests the experience. Following detailed historic accounts, visitors had and opportunity to ask questions relating to the War of 1812 with answers given by the period dressed orators.
Many of the discussions were around the type of firearms used by the British, the Americans and some older flintlock handguns and long guns.
Present also, in period costume as an British officer, was Mike Hogel, resident of Carling and who had recently returned from winning the Canadian championship in shooting matchlock and setting a new record.
Many, including our young American neighbour and his family, took the opportunity to fire a black powder.
If you have information for McKellar News please contact us at 705-389-1786 or last@vianet.ca. We would appreciate hearing from you by Sunday noon for the following week’s newspaper.