SD&G Scoop – Your Local Lowdown for April 10-17, 2025! 🍎🐦🏠
Hey friends, and happy newsletter day! 👋
We’ve got a fresh batch of community goodness coming your way—from powwows to paranormal investigations, trivia to tasty bites, and heartwarming neighbour stories you’ll want to share over coffee. Whether you’re here for the weekend events, a peek inside a historic Lancaster home, or to meet Ron (who’s making birdhouses by the dozen!), we’re glad you’re along for the ride.
So settle in, scroll on, and enjoy your weekly dose of small-town charm, local gems, and a few surprises along the way. ☀️ 🍏📰
⚠️ Quick note! We made a little oops in last week’s newsletter — SDG Libraries and Cornwall Public Library have not teamed up for reciprocal borrowing. The new partnership is actually between SDG Libraries and North Grenville Public Library. Additionally, you will need to sign up and have a library card for each respective library. Thanks to everyone who caught it and kindly let us know!
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK
🎉
What’s Happening This Week (April 17–24, 2025)
📅 Here are a few events you won’t want to miss:
🔸
Lions Easter Breakfast
🗓 April 19 | 🕗 8:00–11:00 AM |
📍 St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Winchester
Enjoy a hearty breakfast of pancakes, sausages, baked beans, fruit, juice, and tea/coffee—and don’t forget to bring your camera for a photo with the Easter Bunny!
💵 Suggested donation: $10 Adults, $6 Kids (Children 3 & under eat free)
🔸
Ghost Revelations: Paranormal Photography Seminar
🗓 April 19 | 🕐 1:00–4:00 PM (Doors at 12:30 PM) |
📍 Cornwall Public Library, 45 Second St E, Rooms 1 & 2
Join Haunt Scene Investigator
Cameron Bagg
for a spine-tingling session exploring photographic evidence of ghosts, spirits, orbs, and shadow beings. Learn how to capture paranormal encounters and build your own collection of eerie evidence.
🎟️
Tickets:
$20 (available only via Eventbrite)
🔸
2025 Akwesasne Children’s Powwow
🗓 April 19 | 🕛 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Registration at 10:00 AM) |
📍 A’nowara’ko:wa Arena, 36 Arena Rd (Phillip Hopps Memorial Rd), Akwesasne, ON K6H 5R7
Celebrate culture, community, and tradition at the annual
Akwesasne Children’s Powwow
! Enjoy traditional dance, craft and food vendors, children’s activities, and the Grand Entry at noon. Everyone is welcome to attend this joyful community event.
📧 Vendor Info:
arena@akwesasne.ca
📞 613-936-1583 Ext 1820
🌐 More details:
info@nnatc.org
🔸
Menopause The Musical – Live in Cornwall!
🗓 April 24 | 🕐 2:00 PM |
📍 Aultsville Theatre, Cornwall
The smash-hit musical that’s had audiences laughing across the globe is coming to
Cornwall for one matinee only
! Set in Bloomingdale’s, four women bond over hot flashes, chocolate binges, and classic hits from the '60s, '70s, and '80s. Grab your mom, daughter, sister, and besties—because this show is guaranteed to have you dancing in the aisles!
🎟️
Tickets:
Orchestra $60 | Mezzanine $50
📍 Available at the Cornwall Aquatic Centre, Benson Centre, or by calling 613-938-9400
📧 More info:
gm@aultsvilletheatre.com
MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR
👋
Ron & “The Bird House”
The Birdhouse
When Ron , an 82-year-old retired Domtar worker from Ingleside, decided to downsize a few years ago, he never imagined his next chapter would involve building over 300 birdhouses and feeders —but that’s exactly what he’s done. What started as a way to stay busy has turned into a full-on passion project, known at the Morrisburg Flea Market as “The Bird House.”
Now in his fourth year , Ron can be found at his booth every Sunday from 8 to 4 , rain or shine, selling handcrafted birdhouses made with love, reclaimed wood, and a little help from the birds in his backyard. He’s met old coworkers, made new friends, and even hugged a woman from Maxville who bought four in one visit. His advice to other retirees? “You have to do something.” And as he puts it: “They’re not hard to make—but they are hard to sell.”
❤️ We’ll continue shining a spotlight on neighbours like Ron who make our community special. If you know someone we should feature—whether they’re creating, giving back, or simply doing something quietly meaningful— hit reply and let us know! We’d love to hear their story.
And because we believe it’s important to share these stories in our neighbours’ own words, we’ll also include Ron’s original message , just as he wrote it. It’s honest, heartfelt, and 100% authentic—just like him.
I never thought, that I would ever be making bird houses, in my lifetime ...I worked at Domtar for 36 years , had a hobby farm, and raced horses.. so there was always , something to do .. I had trouble getting help, to take the hay off, and i was getting older, I am 82, so decided to sell and down size. Bought a house in Ingleside, and it had a little work shop, in the basement. It didn't take long, before i was getting bored ..lol. I bought some tools, and started making bird houses for the back yard.
This will be my 4th yr, making bird houses & feeders. I buy my material, locally... and some time, people will give me some wood ..I took down a long fence, for a guy... and at the time, I said, I'll never use all that wood, well i have 3 pieces left. I am sure, I have made over 300 bird houses. I had a man from Ottawa order 25 bird houses, with stands, that went in the ground. He was celebrating his 30 wedding anniversary, and was going to give, everybody a bird house.
I have a booth (outside) at THE MORRISBURG FLEA MARKET open, every Sunday from 8 to 4. I have over 100 bird houses & feeders for sale. I meet a lot of nice people, and old coworkers from Domtar, that i hadn't seen in 20 years. And it is funny.. you never know , who is going to buy something... just yesterday, this elderly lady came in from Maxville, she bought 4 bird houses, and said, she will be back for more .....I gave her a big hug...lol
In the back yard, i have several bird houses & feeders , and it buts up against a bush...we get wild turkeys that come in and pick off the ground, that the cardinals, bluejays, robins etc. drop, from the feeders.. It is always nice to see I think it is the same 15 every day .. one day , we had over 50, I don't know why ...lol
When you get older and retire, you have to do something, either a part time job, volunteering, or gardening, but don't make bird houses ,,to sell, everybody is doing it...lol ..,. I tell people, they are not hard to make, but hard to sell . If you have never been to the flea market in Morrisburg, you should take it in, you will be surprised , in what they have there, I know, I was.
Ron
WHERE TO GRAB A BITE
🥗
Wholesome Eats at Carrots N’ Dates
Located in the heart of downtown Cornwall, Carrots N’ Dates offers a vibrant menu of plant-forward dishes that are as nourishing as they are flavorful. From hearty bowls like the Pad Thai and Peanut Coconut Curry to creative handhelds such as the Buffalo Cauliflower Wrap and Black Bean Cheeseburger , there's something to delight every palate.
Don't miss their Bake Shoppe , featuring guilt-free treats crafted with wholesome ingredients. Whether you're dining in their cozy space or grabbing a meal to go, Carrots N’ Dates is a must-visit for health-conscious foodies.
📍 116 Pitt St, Cornwall
THROWBACK CORNER
📸
Domtar in the Winter of ’82
Domtar 1982
This striking photo takes us back to January 1982 , capturing the iconic Domtar paper mill towering over the west end of Cornwall. With plumes of smoke rising into a crisp winter sky, it’s a powerful reminder of the city’s industrial roots—and the generations of families who worked hard within those walls.
For decades, Domtar was a major employer in Cornwall and shaped the economic and cultural identity of the community. Whether you walked this street on your way to work, or remember the hum of machinery from your front porch, this image is sure to stir a few memories (and smells).
Got a photo or story from Cornwall’s past? We’d love to feature it in an upcoming Throwback Corner! Just reply to this email and share your piece of history.
PET OF THE WEEK
🐾
A Special Girl Still Learning to Trust
She needs a loving home.
This week, we're highlighting a truly resilient soul currently in the care of the SD&G Animal Shelter . This sweet girl was found as a stray in South Stormont during the bitter cold of January—wandering alone for days with no food, water, or shelter. After several failed rescue attempts, animal control was called in and a trap was set.
When she arrived at the shelter, she was in very poor physical condition and absolutely terrified of people , likely the result of severe past abuse . For weeks, she wouldn’t let anyone near her—curling up in the back corner of her kennel in fear. But thanks to consistent care, safety, and regular meals , she’s slowly beginning to understand what it means to feel safe.
She's estimated to be 1–2 years old , not yet spayed, and while her initial adoption didn’t work out, the team at the shelter is still working patiently to build her trust. Her journey isn’t over yet, but she’s come such a long way.
If you’d like to support or follow her story, you can contact or visit the SD&G Animal Shelter via their Facebook page .
COMMUNITY WINS
🏆
Tri-County Literacy Council is Expanding Its Reach!
Big cheers to the team at Tri-County Literacy Council who are now helping newcomers to our region improve their English skills —and they’re calling on the community for support!
They’re looking for caring, committed volunteers to serve as ESL tutors . Just 2 hours a week can make a big impact in someone’s life, helping them gain the confidence and communication skills they need to thrive in our community.
Interested in getting involved?
📞 Call (613) 932-7161 ext. 106
📧 Email:
esl@tricountyliteracy.ca
🌐
tricountyliteracy.ca
Let’s keep lifting each other up—one word at a time. 💬✨
JUST FOR FUN
🍎 Games Corner – Just for Fun!
Where was the famous McIntosh apple first discovered and cultivated?
A) Long Sault
B) South Dundas near Williamsburg
C) Martintown
D) Lancaster
🍏 Take your best guess! The answer is at the end of the newsletter.
ESTATE & NEIGHBOURHOOD BUZZ
🏡
“The Painted Lady CIRCA 1866”
Looking for charm and character with room to grow? Meet “The Painted Lady” CIRCA 1866 , a stunning 5-bedroom, 3-bath century home in the heart of Lancaster village . With its wraparound porch, ornate wood finishes, and music room, this home radiates old-world elegance and modern comfort.
Inside, you’ll find a spacious living room, formal dining area, and a sunlit eat-in kitchen with built-in pantry and appliances. Upstairs offers two full bathrooms and a second staircase for added convenience. Outside, enjoy the above-ground pool , gazebo , gardens , and more—plus there’s potential to run your own bed & breakfast . A quick commute to Cornwall or Montreal makes this a gem for families or dreamers alike.
💰 Listed at
$540,000
👉 View Listing on
Realtor.ca
JOBS AND CLASSIFIEDS
📢
Who is Hiring?
💼 Current Listings:
-
Child, Youth & Family Worker @ Children’s Aid Society of SDG - https://www.oacas.org/careers/
-
Casual Support Assistant at SDG Library – https://sdgcounties.bamboohr.com/careers/80
-
Logistics Coordinator - https://csepr.ca/en/emploi-job/logistics-coordinator-3/
CLOSING CALL
📬
That’s a wrap on this week’s Scoop!
Thanks for tagging along with us through another week of community goodness, local stories, and a whole lot of heart. Whether you learned something new, discovered a local gem, or spotted a familiar face—this newsletter is made better because you’re here.
💌 Not subscribed yet? Hop aboard here:
https://sdgscoop.beehiiv.com/subscribe
💬 Know someone who’d love The Scoop? Forward this along and share the love!
🧠 Trivia Answer: The McIntosh apple was first discovered and cultivated in South Dundas near Williamsburg —a crisp little piece of history from our very own backyard. 🍎
See you next week,
— The SD&G Scoop Team
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