Old Cemetery Cleanup
The pioneer cemetery in Clinton is in need of cleanup. For years a volunteer group maintained it and then it was ‘turned over’ to the Village for maintenance by Public Works.
When the Village investigated the actual ownership of the cemetery it was discovered that it is still in the name of Joseph Smith, the early Clinton pioneer who had donated the land to create the cemetery. As such the village staff could not continue maintenance on the grounds, as it is actually private property.
Now a group has emerged, known simply as Friends of the Cemetery. They are calling for volunteers to come and help do a cleanup of the cemetery prior to the arrival of the CiB judges.
Everyone is meeting at the Old Cemetery at 8 a.m. Friday, July 19 to work on the grounds. Needed are lawn mowers and weed whackers (and people to use them). Brooms to sweep off the tombstones would also be welcome. If you have some white paint and would like to paint the rocks that spell out “Old Cemetery 1961” that would also be great.
This is one way you can help honour Clinton ancestors, participate in the Civic Pride Week in Clinton and help spruce up our town before the judges arrive on July 21.
Chainsaw Carving Demo
Darren Cox will be demonstrating chainsaw carving on Saturday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the lot beside Parkies Variety on Clinton’s main street.
Come and watch him work and see what can be created with a chainsaw.
This is just one more of the 150/50 Anniversary events in Clinton.
Music in the Park
The second in the series of four Music in the Park events will be held on Saturday, July 20 in Reg Conn Centennial Park as Dustin Bentall and Kendal Carson take to the stage at 7:30 p.m.
Bring your own chairs (and blankets) and come and enjoy the free show.
This is also a 150/50 Anniversary event.
CiB Judges Welcome
The National Communities in Bloom judges arrive in Clinton on Sunday, July 21. They are Claire Laberge, a retired horticulturist in charge of the rose and aquatic garden at the Montreal Botanical Garden and Gerry Teahen, retired Human Resources manager, Environmental Manager and former Mayor of St. Mary’s, Ontario.
There will be a Community Welcome Buffet Dinner at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Clinton Memorial Hall. The dinner is being put on by the Clinton CiB members but you are welcome to bring and share your favourite salad.
Come and meet the judges and help choose the winners in the Funky Flowerpot Contest.
If you see a couple of the Clinton CiB members walking around town on Monday, July 22 stop and say hello. We want to show the judges what a friendly, welcoming community we have here.
Although the judges will be visiting a few areas on Sunday, the most of the judging will be done on Monday. They will not be entering and judging individual properties. They are here to judge the community as a whole.
The criteria they will be judging include overall tidiness of the community, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscaping (including turf and groundcovers) and community involvement.
Although the judging is done in July the results won’t be known until the National Communities in Bloom Symposium in October.
Texas 4000 Ride for Cancer
They are doing it again! On June 1, 69 students from the 2013 LIVESTRONG Texas 4000 team mounted their bicycles and left UT campus in Austin TX and headed for Anchorage, Alaska.
It will take 70 days of riding, averaging 70 miles per day. There are three routes across the country with 23 riders taking each route. Each rider will pedal over 4,000 miles by the end of the summer!
The entire ride is self-supported by the team. They secured their lodging, acquired food donations and trained hard for this ride.
In addition, each rider raised $4,500 for cancer research and support services, volunteered 50 hours in the community and rode 1,500 training miles.
These remarkable young people will stop in Clinton on July 25. The Clinton Lions Club will provide them with their dinner and then members of the public are welcome to come to Reg Conn Centennial Park at 7 p.m. to meet these outstanding university students.
They have given up their entire summer to cycle and spread cancer awareness. Come and show your support and hear their remarkable stories.
Susan Swan