Saturday 30 June 2012

Plan to visit Glengarry County in Eastern Ont.,

Plan to visit Glengarry County in Eastern Ont.,


                 A Newsletter from Rosswin Travel, 
                       Courtenay, Vancouver Island, BC
                          rosswintravel@blogspot.com

Church  bell at Historic St. Raphael’s Ruins, St. Raphael’s, Ont,, 
painting by R. Ross  

Contents:
Visiting Ontario ........  
South Glengarry ........  
North Glengarry .......... 
The Glengarry Highland Games ........ 
Williamstown, Ont. .......... 
The Williamstown Fair ..........  
Williamstown Archives & Genealogy Center ...... 
Travel Tips ..........  
Canada’s Heritage In French Gaspesie ...... 
Set Sail with Buzz Lightyear and more aboard “Disney Wonder” .......... 
Organic Insect Repellent ..... 
Concentrated Tent & Gear Solar Proof ........  
Quote ...........  
Hotel or Time Share .........  
Artist of the month ........  
Joke ..........  
Book Travel Now .............. 

  


                    
  
                                  Visiting Ontario this Summer? 
                   Plan to visit Glengarry County in Eastern Ont.,
                                                and attend the
                            The Glengarry Highland Games &
                                      The Williamstown Fair

Are you planning a trip to Ontario this summer, then why not check out Glengarry County, the most eastern county in Ontario.  Settled in the mid 1780‘s by the United Empire Loyalists the area is an historic gem. The many events and places of interest in and around the Glengarry area will keep you fully occupied. Make it your home base at one of the many B&B, the hosts who will direct you in the right direction whatever your interest might be.  Visit Cornwall, Massena, USA, Montreal and Ottawa all within easy driving distance of Glengarry. Return to and relax in a quiet and friendly rural atmosphere. Our favorite weeks to visit Glengarry are the last week in July and the first Week in Aug. where we take in the Glengarry Highland Games, and the following weekend the Williamstown Fair.    
There are lot’s of activities at other times as well and a drive around the area to visit the museums, old church’s and graveyards and places of interest in the surrounding country side is worthwhile.  Don’t forget Upper Canada Village and the Lost Villages west of Cornwall. If your ancestors settled in Glengarry then you will enjoy finding out what genealogical resources are available to connect you to your roots. 
Glengarry County, Ontario is made up of four Townships with Lancaster Township & Charlottenburgh Township in South Glengarry and Kenyon Township and Lochiel Township located in North Glengarry. I am not going to write a history of the area in this blog but just touch on the major towns & villages and to mention the largest event which takes place in the County of Glengarry on the Aug 1st long weekend, “The Glengarry Highland Games” or also known as the “Maxville Highland Games”. Another event which takes place the 2nd weekend in August is the “Williamstown Fair” which takes place at the fairgrounds in the Village of Williamstown . The fair has been serving the Glengarry community since 1812 and is a three day event. 

The following is a brief outline of Glengarry County located in eastern Ontario and bordering on the Quebec border.  
South Glengarry 
The township was created on 1 January 1998, by amalgamating the townships of Charlottenburgh and Lancaster with the independent village of Lancaster.
The township comprises the communities of Avondale, Bainsville, Bayview Estates, Bridge End, Brown House Corner, Camerons Point, Cashions Glen, Curry Hill, Dalhousie Mills, Glen Brook, Glendale Subdivision, Glen Falloch, Glen Nevis, Glen Norman, Glenroy, Glen Walter, Green Valley, Lancaster, Lancaster Heights, Loon Island, MacGillivrays Bridge, Martintown, Munroes Mills, North Branch, North Lancaster, North Lancaster Station, Pine Hill, Redwood Estates, South Lancaster, Summerstown, Summerstown Station, St. Raphaels, Tyotown, and Williamstown.
The population of South Glengarry in 2011 was 13, 162 and the land area was 233.71 sq.mi
North Glengarry
North Glengarry is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. It is a predominantly rural area located between Ottawa-Gatineau, Montreal and Cornwall-Massena.
The current township of North Glengarry was created on 1 January 1998, by amalgamating the former townships of Kenyon and Lochiel with the villages of Maxville and Alexandria.
The township comprises the urban community of Alexandria (population 3,287) and the rural communities of Apple Hill, Athol, Baltic Corners, Breadalbane, Brodie, Dalkeith, Dominionville, Dornie, Dunvegan, Fairview, Fassifern, Fiskes Corners, Glen Robertson, Glen Sandfield, Greenfield, Guaytown, Kirkhill, Laggan, Lochiel, Lochinvar, Lorne, Maxville, McCormick, McCrimmon, Pine Grove, St. Elmo, and Stewarts Glen.
The population of North Glengarry in 2011 was 10, 251 and the land area was 248.53 sq. mi.
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                              The Glengarry Highland Games
Glengarry Highland Games also known as the Maxville Highland Games are held the first long weekend in August every year. Maxville a village of approxametly 600 plus persons do a tremendious job of hosting the games. 
The first games were held in 1948 and a few hundred people were expected not the thousand that turned up and the local people had to raid their pantry’s to feed the many people enjoying the hospitality of the Maxville community. Since that time the people of Maxville and Glengarry have welcomed tens of thousands to what is estimated as one of the largest Highland Games in the World. It is a two day event with a tartan ball on the previous Thursday evening. The community deserves credit for the great job they do to welcome the many visitors to the area. 
You can purchase seating in the grandstand or bring your lawn chairs or blankets, either way you will enjoy the entertainment on the Friday evening or the day time activities on both the Friday and Saturday. The closing ceremonies with the mass pipe bands is a touching tribute to the mainly Scottish people who settled this part of Ontario and to the many who enjoy living or visiting what is hard to believe was once a wilderness. 
Many venders and food booths are available as well as locally prepared dining, the beer tents are available for those who like to mingle with the locals or the Angus Gray Hall for entertainment from the local musicians.
Check out the following web sites
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                                        Part of the massed pipe band display at Friday Night Tattoo  2011

                                                      McCulloch Dancers at Friday Night Tattoo 2011.
 From the Glengarry Highland Games web site. 
 “They will witness an outstanding display of music, dance, sports, fiddling, pageantry, and tradition.  In the course of the day, more than 60 pipe bands are put through their paces to decide the North American Pipe Band Championships™, more than 200 dancers defy gravity in the Highland Dance competition and giants hurl telephone pole-sized cabers and 50 pound iron hammers around the infield. It is a memorable and incredible event.”
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                                    Williamstown, Ontario
Williamstown, Ont., home of the oldest continuing Fair in Ontario, The Manor House built by Sir John Johnson which is also the local Library and the Glengarry Archives, The Nor’Westers Museum, (not to forget the Glengarry Pioneer Museum at Dunvegan), St. Andrew’s Church established by Rev. John Bethune, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and the David Thompson Home all to be visited in this beautiful historic village in Glengarry County, Ontario.
Williamstown Fair, 201 years, Canada’s Oldest Annual Fair
The following is the wording on a Plaque in the Village of Williamstown on the north side of John Street at the entrance to the fairgrounds.
Plaque Text
"Ontario's oldest continually operated agricultural fair received its patent on March 29, 1808, from Francis Gore, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada. It is probable that at first, the local farmers simply gathered on the village common or streets. However on June 25, 1814, Sir John Johnson, the founder of Williamstown, granted 5 ha for the express purpose of holding a fair and it has been held here annually ever since. Through the years, this fair, like many others in the province, has raised our standards of agriculture by providing a centre for the display of superior farm products and livestock".
                                                ___________________
The Williamstown Fair has a varied program such as Family Games, Exhibitions, Petting Zoo, Wagon Rides, Free Corn Roast, Midway, 4-H Dairy Shows, Horse Hitch Demo, and Horse Pull, Kids Tractor Pull and the Raisin River Footrace on the Sunday, also entertainment and many more activities. 
For more information on the Fair check out the following website. 
http://www.williamstownfair.com/
                                                      _______________________________
Glengarry Archives and Genealogy Center.
If your descendant’s settled in Glengarry, then a visit to the Glengarry Archives is necessary not only to see the Sir John Johnson Manor house but to check out what local genealogy is available and to browse the many books written on the area. The archivist is very knowledgeable in the local history and you might just meet up with long lost relatives. http://www.glengarryarchives.ca/
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      The following pictures were taken at the Williamstown Fair in August 2011.

                                 Lochiel Pipe Band entertaining in the "Gathering place" at the Williamstown Fair.

                                                             Tractor Display at the Williamstown Fair 2011


 Antique Car at Williamstown Fair Display, 2011

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Travel Tips
Travel Tips from Carmeron travelers newletter 2003 
When packing for a vacation, pack unisex.  Put some of the wife's and husband's clothes in each bag that is checked.   In this way if one bag is lost neither will have to wear their travel clothes until the bag is located or replacement clothes can be obtained.  It saves the uneasiness of going to the evening meal in plaid shorts and a funny tee shirt.  Now more than ever, with baggage charges, take half of what you normally take on vacation.  The Travelsmith catalog has items that are reversible, mix and match, and wrinkle resistant that are easily washed and dried in a room.

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Fodor’s Travel Blog
See Canada's British Heritage in French Gaspesie
Posted by Deanna Cioppa on June 26, 2012 at 10:08:18 AM EDT
By Deanna Cioppa
Fodor's Contributor
The residents of the province of Quebec are, shall we say, quite proud of their French heritage and the uniqueness of their region. The deeper you get into Québec, the harder it can be to even find someone who speaks English. And that's part of Québec's charm and character. So it's surprising to find, in this bastion of Francophilia, a town completely devoted to Québec's British heritage.
Located on Duthie's Point and part of Québec's stunning Gaspé Peninsula, the Gaspesian British Heritage Village is right on the Bay of Chaleur. The property stretches 82 acres, and features actors in period costumes representing roles like Village Blacksmith along with 24 historic buildings and walking paths that lead to one of Gaspé's many charming lighthouses and a beach. The focus is not only on the British settlement of Gaspé, which began around 1784 when Loyalists arrived from across the pond, but also on the variety of peoples who settled the area—Mi'gmaq, Acadian, and British. Organized family activities and Traditional Skills Days help bring children closer to history—you can build an outdoor bread oven!—and a tea room provides light fare and refreshment.
The Heritage Village is also host to Québec's only bluegrass festival. From August 26 through September 2, the New Richmond Bluegrass Festival brings together over 50 bands on three stages. Interested in staying for the whole fest? Purchase a VIP or weekend pass to get free camping (no services) on site for the entire week.
Plan to spend at least a few hours here, especially if you want to explore all the buildings. Self-guided tours (with map) are available, and guided tours are offered daily at 11 am and 2 pm. The site is open daily through September 2 from 10 am to 5 pm, with admission available by arrangement after. Admission is $8 for adults with discounts for children.
Photo credits: Courtesy of Gaspesian British Heritage Village
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For the Disney Cruise fans check out the following.
Fodor’s Travel Intelligence Travel Blog / http://www.fodors.com/news/story_5643.html
Set Sail with Buzz Lightyear, and More, Aboard Disney Wonder
Posted by Elissa Richard on June 14, 2012 at 12:25:45 PM EDT
By Elissa Richard
Fodor's Contributor
The family- and film-minded folks behind Disney Cruise Line have announced a series of special Pixar-themed cruises set to unfold aboard the Disney Wonder this fall. The four sailings, scheduled to embark from Los Angeles and cruise the California coast to Ensenada, Mexico, will feature a cast of character actors from popular Pixar films like Toy Story, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille (Mr. Incredible, Remy, Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear among them), along with Pixar-themed entertainment and exhibitions designed for kids of all ages.
In addition to special meet-and-greet sessions with Pixar characters, guests aboard the themed sailings can look forward to screenings of Pixar films, including Finding Nemo 3-D and sneak peeks of future Pixar flicks; artist- and filmmaker-led presentations highlighting the creative process behind animated films; art exhibitions showcasing storyboards, character sketches, and other film-related art; and even Pixar-themed dance parties. All guests aboard will also receive a commemorative lithograph designed by Steve Purcell, Pixar artist and co-director/screenwriter for Pixar's latest release, Brave.
The 7-night Pixar-themed sailings aboard the 2,700-passenger Disney Wonder sail from LA to San Francisco, San Diego, and Ensenada, Mexico; rates start from $799/person, and embark on select dates between mid-September and mid-October. DisneyCruise.com
Photo Credit: Disney Cruise Line
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Here is a couple of new products on the market you might be interested in.
Organic Insect Repellent
Why We Like It: Lemongrass oil gives this child- and pet-safe insect repellant its sweet, flowery smell. It's sized for easy transport in your purse and on the plane. But it's definitely a good idea to bring along this environmentally conscious product as you explore the outdoors.
How Much: 2.5 oz, $12; 4 oz, $18 / Buy It: Visit TickTockNaturals.com.
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Concentrated Tent & Gear Solarproof
Why We Like It: Help your gear serve you longer. Just a single application of this safe, water-based solvent can double the useful life of your tent's fabric. It's also amazing for backpacks, camera bags and more, protecting them from UV damage and adding water repellency in the process.
How Much: 5 oz, $13; 33.8 oz, $39 / Buy It: Visit Nikwax.com.
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Quote
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain
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 Artist of the Month 
 Painting by Elizabeth Fraser
My name is Elizabeth Fraser. I am a spirited & disciplined daily painter from Portland, Maine, where I have a studio on Munjoy Hill. I paint every day and complete at least one oil painting a day. I started my daily painting project in January of 2006 and it has changed my life as an artist. The exercise in discipline has been extraordinary; my eye is sharper; my sense of color is stronger; compositions jump out at me; I see a painting in everything. 

I have created an art journal with my small daily paintings, giving my viewers an insight into my life as an artist in Maine, as well as a sense of my time and place in Portland. My daily painting project has resulted in the completion of close to 2000 daily small paintings as well as numerous larger works. 
With my bright, bold use of color and expressive brush strokes, my paintings evoke feelings and moods taken from moments that impress me. From sunrises on the Eastern Prom, to napping pets and vases of flowers, to trips to the Farmer’s Market, and visits to nearby beaches and parks, it is the beauty that surrounds me in my everyday world that is the subject of my work.
Elizabeth has Glengarry County connections, her father James Fraser a long time teacher in Hudson Ohio,  was born in Charlottenburgh Township and attended the local schools. Her grandparents were Arlington Fraser 1904-1997 and Grace MacDonald 1910-1982 and an uncle Alex W. Fraser, with the assistance of his wife Rhoda Ross publishes books on the Glengarry area, an aunt Frances Fraser resides in Dalkeith, Ont. and is involved with the Dalkeith Historical Society.  Elizabeth's mother was Molly Lynn 1936-1990 from Virginia. Elizabeth has a brother Michael who also paints
To contact Elizabeth and to visit her studio:
Fraser Art Studio • 81 Congress St. • Munjoy Hill • Portland, Maine, 207-650-3437
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 Joke Time
Happy Monday
A woman was having a daytime affair while her husband was at work.  One rainy day she was in bed with her boyfriend when, to her horror, she heard her husband's car pull into the driveway.  “Oh my God, hurry!  Grab your clothes and jump out the window.  My husband is home early!”  “I can't jump out the window.  It's raining out there!”  “If my husband catches us in here, he'll kill us both!” she replied.  “He's got a hot temper and a gun, so the rain is the least of your problems!”  So the boyfriend scoots out of bed, grabs his clothes and jumps out the window!  As he ran down the street in the pouring rain, he quickly discovered he had run right into the middle of the town's annual marathon, so he started running along beside the others, about 300 of them.  Being naked, with his clothes tucked under his arm, he tried to blend in as best he could.  After a little while a small group of runners who had been watching him with some curiosity, jogged closer.  “Do you always run in the nude?” one asked.  “Oh yes” he replied gasping in air, “it feels so wonderfully free!”  Another runner moved a long side.  “Do you always run carrying your clothes with you under your arm?”  “Oh yes” our friend answered breathlessly, “that way I can get dressed right at the end of the run and get in my car to go home!”  Then a third runner cast his eyes a little lower and asked, “Do you always wear a condom when you run?”  “Nope, only when it's raining!”
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Rosswin Travel,  
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
420 Harmston Ave, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2X2

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Friday 8 June 2012

Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, BC

Comox Valley Farmers Market
Painting by R. Ross
             Travel 
                              
         Cruise News
                 A newsletter from    
         Rosswin Travel, Courtenay, BC
                    Vol. 1, issue #4                                                                
                  Table of Contents 
Comox Valley / Comox Valley Links / Comox Glacier / Art in the Valley / Quote / Travel Tips / TSA Travel Locks/  Teminogy Used / Joke / Booking travel / 
                                                                                                                                         Hotel or Time Share.
          Comox Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia 
                      City of Courtenay - Town of Comox - Village of Cumberland 
                                           A great place to visit, a better place to live.
Did you know that Vancouver Island has no mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, foxes, coyotes, porcupines, chipmunks, skunks or resident grizzly bears. 
Did you also know that Vancouver Island has no poisonous snakes, poison ivy, or poison oak.  (Information from the Comox Valley Nature Viewing Guide, www.comoxvalleynaturalist.bc.ca/nature-viewing guide)
The Comox Valley Regional District is situated on the East coast of Vancouver Island, BC and includes the City of Courtenay (24,099), Town of Comox (13,627), Village of Cumberland (3,398), and the settlements of Royston (1,582), Union Bay (116), Fanny Bay, Black Creek and Merville well as Denman Island (1,022) and Hornby Island (958). The total population of the area is 63.538. (sorry, no breakdown on population statistics for Fanny Bay, Black Creek and Merville)

The Valley is also known as “The Valley of Festivals”. Events include the Art & Bloom Festival, North Island Hot Jazz Festival, Comox Valley Shellfish Festival, About Town! Marina Park Main Event, CYMC Summer School & Festival, Vancouver Island Music Fest, Hornby Island Festival, Filbert Festival, Comox Nautical Days, Showcase Festival, Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair and the Big Time Out, Cumberland Empire Days, as well as events such as the Originals Only Fine Art Show & Sale, Comox Valley Highland Games and many others.
 This newsletter was going to feature the Comox Valley in detail but when searching the web I discovered that there was a great deal of information relating to the Comox Valley, too much to put in my newsletter and to create a blog would be to repeat what has already been written. 
Therefore I have decided to create a blog with pictures I have taken over the years and with some links to the location of the places I have featured.  This will give you an idea of the area whether you are planning a visit or thinking of moving to the area. This blog will be posted to the rosswintravel.blogspot.ca in the near future and I will also be sending out the URL link to you. 
In this newsletter I will include a brief outline of some links and events in the valley.
Visiting the Comox Valley! Then be sure to stop at our Visitors Center just off Highway 19 at the Courtenay, Comox Exit.
Comox Valley Tourist Center
Visit the new tourist center just off Highway 19 at the Courtenay/Comox Exit. 
Check out the display of a dug out canoe and fighter jet before you enter the building.
While there see the First Nations display, visit the gift shop and pick up brochures on the Comox Valley and the surrounding area as well as other parts of British Columbia.  Book your hotel/motel, theatre tickets and other venues at the booking/information desk.   There is also a charger if you drive an Electric Car. 
Comox Valley Visitors Center
#101 - 3607 Small Road
Cumberland, BC VoR 1S0
  1. 400-2882 TF 1-855-400-2882
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Check out the following links to the Comox Valley
History
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Discover the Comox Valley
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City of Courtenay Heritage) first Nations)

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Puntledge River Camp Ground

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Comox Museum, Town of Comox

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101 things to do in the Comox Valley

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Old Photos of the Comox Valley

The following are some of the events that take place annually in the Comox Valley. 
Vancouver Island Music Fest - July 6-8 2012 - http://www.islandmusicfest.com/
contact Vancouver Island Music Fest, Box 3788 Courtenay, BC, V9N 7P2 for general inquiries
Comox Valley Exhibition Fall Fair, August 24, 25 & 26, 2012 -
Office - 201-580 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, BC, V9N 2M7, 250-338-8177
Cumberland Empire Days , Every year, the Cumberland Empire Days Committee holds a week of events leading up to and including the long weekend in May. 
For more information contact the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Bureau 
2680 Dunsmuir Abe, PO Box 250, Cumberland, BC. VOR 1S0
1-866-301-4636
Filberg Festival, August 3-6, 2012 - 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - contact information 61 Filberg Road, Comox, B.C., V9M 2S7, 250-334-9242,  
Comox Nautical Days 2012, BC Day Weekend, August 4 to 6, 2012

Don’t Forget to Visit the Farmer’s Market
The Farmer’s Market Located at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds at 4839 Headquarters Road from April to October and in the winter at the Native Sons Hall on Cliff Ave. There is a Wednesday Market from June to September at the Comox Bay Farms at Comox Road bypass.     ___________________________________
 Comox Glacier
A visit to the valley would not be complete without viewing the Comox Glacier which you can see by scanning the Beaufort Range, the glacier can be seen from just about anywhere in the Comox Valley.

The Comox Glacier is a glacier on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, located 30 km (19 mi) southwest of Courtenay and 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Argus Mountain.
The highest elevation of the Comox Glacier, 1,960 m (6,430 ft), refers to a rocky outcrop on the north side of the glacier. Lacking an official name, it is referred to as the Comox Glacier summit.
The Comox Glacier is a member of the Vancouver Island Ranges which in turn form part of the Insular Mountains.[2]
Painting by R. Ross
History
The name Comox Glacier comes from the name of the K'ómoks First Nation who inhabit the area. They refer to the mountain by the name Kwénis, which means "whale". This name comes from a traditional account of the Great Flood: a whale was said to be trapped up on the mountain when the flood receded. In the early 1900s, the glacier was known as Dome Glacier. The name Comox Glacier was officially adopted in 1939, at the suggestion of the Comox & District Mountaineering Club.[3]
http://members.shaw.ca/beyondnootka/articles/beaufort.html
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 Art in the Valley
The Comox Valley is home to many Artists and there are several art galleries 
available to display their work. The following is just a few. 
Pearl Ellis Galley, 1729 Comox Avenue, Comox. a non-profit society, 
open Tues to sat 10 am to 4 pm. & Sun. 1 pm to 4 pm
http://www.pearlellisgallery.com/
Whytes Framing and Gallery 
Whytes Framing and Gallery is hosting local artists at 1225 Lazo Rd, Comox,  for information on the current artist e-mail info@whytesframing.com or www.whytesframing.com, Tel. 250. 339 3366

Comox Valley Art Gallery, 580 Duncan Avenue, Courtenay, BC open Tues. thru Sat from 10 a.m to 5 p.m.  Admission by donation.
http://www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com/

Muir Gallery, The Arts Council of the Comox Valley, 440 Anderton Ave, Courtenay, BC
 250-334-2983. Hours, Tues. to Sat. 11a.m to 4 p.m
"The Originals Only Fine Art Show & Sale"  supports local artists by featuring an art show twice a year, at Marina Park in Comox in August and in November at the Comox Recreation Center. 
Summer Show, August 11 & 12, 2012, Marina Park, Comox, BC. 10:00 a.m to 5 p.m. (Sat. & Sun.)
Fall/Winter Show, November 17 & 18, 2012 at the Comox Recreation Center on Noel St. Comox.
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Quote
Calm seas never made a good sailor.

 Thanks to Robin DeFoe distributor for Immunocal - Rocket Fuel for your Immune System, 250-898-8695
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 Travel Tips 
Depending on where you are traveling the following might be good to have with you
. Ear Plugs
. Eye Shades if  trying to sleep on the plane
. Clothesline &  Laundry Soap (Most cruise ships have clothes lines in the bathroom but  hotels do not (or not many if they do)
. Guide Book & Maps
. Flashlight (if you are in an interior cabin on a cruise ship it can be very dark, we usually leave the bathroom light on and almost close the bathroom door so that we get just enough light to see where we are going if we have to get up) 
. Rain capes that will fold into a pouch.
. TSA (Transport Security Administration) Locks for luggage See following article (If the customs think there is something of interest to them in your suitcase they can open the TSA locks and will not have to brake you lock or page you to open your suitcase )
. Luggage tags that can be folded to hide address (burglars can check the address on your tag if is not folded, they know you are traveling and chances are there is no-one at your house)
. Luggage strap to go around luggage, not only makes it easier to identify but helps to keep your items in place if zipper breaks.
. Money belt
. Camera/film/extra batteries.
. Sunscreen (if you are going to the sunny south and plan on sun bathing then sunscreen is advisable, also a wide brim hat)
. Sun Hat
. Extra pair of reading Glasses
 . Travel Clock with Alarm 
(If in an interior cabin on a cruise ship you will not have any sunlight to wake you up, I have heard of passenger’s sleeping well into the next morning before they realized what time it was)
. Electrical Converters/adaptors, 
( An AC extension cord or adapter. While most cruise ships use the European 220-volt power as their standard onboard, they still supply your cabin with one U.S.-standard AC outlet. It is usually by your desk so you can plug in your hairdryer or laptop.
Most CruiseMates take along a power strip so they can plug in other incidentals. Typically, you will need to plug in your laptop, digital camera recharger, hair dryer, curling iron, etc.
Never plug anything made for 110 volts into a 220-volt socket even if you have an adapter to make it fit. Your curling iron will burn your hair off, and you may see your video camera go up in a puff of smoke. Many separate power adapters for laptops and cameras, however, can sense what voltage they are plugged into and will automatically reconfigure for it. Read the fine print on your adapter.
A three-way AC adapter you plug directly into the socket is handy and small to carry.
Depending on where you are going the following items might be useful:
     . Laxative
     . Insect repellent
     . Diarrhea Medicine
     . Aspirin/pain reliever
     . Motion sickness medication
     . Malaria Pills
     . Antibiotic Cream
Most of these items can be bought onboard ship or at the airport before you board the plane but will be more expensive than from your local drug store. 
More tips
TSA Locks
Missing Locks and damaged baggage including zippers and zipper pulls
TSA LOCK POLICY: In some cases screeners will have to open your baggage as part of the screening process. If your bag is unlocked, then TSA will simply open and screen the baggage.
However, if you decide to lock your checked baggage and TSA cannot open your checked baggage through other means (TSA Recognized Locks ), then the locks may have to be broken.  For soft-sided baggage, this process will NOT damage your zippers or zipper pulls.  TSA is not liable for damage caused to locked bags that must be opened for security purposes.
Locks (including TSA recognized locks), along with your baggage, can also be damaged by airport conveyor belt systems as shown below:
The image below is a collection of 244 locks pulled from under an airport baggage handling conveyor belt where the two belts come together.  These were collected over a period of one month at a New York Airport.
Please understand that unseen forces besides TSA may have contributed to your lock missing or your baggage damaged in transit.
Air Travel, Travel Assistant
Tsa Recognized Baggage Locks
TSA screens every passenger's baggage before it is placed on an airplane. While our technology allows us to electronically screen bags, there are times when we need to physically inspect a piece of luggage. TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be opened by security officers using universal "master" keys so that the locks may not have to be cut. These locks are available at airports and travel stores nationwide. The packaging on the locks indicates whether they can be opened by TSA.
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 Terminology Used by the airlines and Hotels etc.
Define Pat-down. -  Pat-down. A form of physical search in which a screener uses his or her hands to determine if a passenger is carrying any weapons or other contraband. Without the hyphen, to perform such a search.
Define Chat-down - Slang. Chat-down. A term for a behavioral detection program instituted by the TSA in which screeners asks airline passengers a series of questions about where they have been and where they are going in an attempt to detect those who are behaving suspiciously. The term is a play on the word pat-down
Define Airplane Foot - airplane foot. Slang. A swelling of the lower extremities associated with long airplane flights; a possible symptom of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (qv).
Define Airline Appointed Agency - airline appointed agency. A U.S. travel agency that holds airline ticket stock or has e-ticketing capabilities.
Define agentless booking - Agentless booking. A booking made by a consumer using an automated system and bypassing a travel agent.
Define Air Mile - Air mile. A unit of distance measuring approximately 6,076 feet.
Define Adventure Tourism - Adventure tourism. Recreational travel undertaken to remote or exotic destinations for the purpose of exploration or engaging in a variety of rugged activities.
Define Autopilot - Autopilot. On an aircraft, a computer-controlled system that keeps the plane on a predetermined course without the intervention of the pilot.
Define Available Seat Miles - Available seat miles. One seat, occupied or not, moved one mile. Used as a measure of airline capacity.
Define Alliance Fare - Alliance fare. A round-the-world fare offered by a group of airlines (an "alliance"). See also construction fare.
Define Air/Sea - Air/sea. Trips, tickets, or fares that include both air and sea components, as in a cruise package.
Define Air Courier - Air courier. A person who accompanies time-sensitive cargo being shipped as passengers' baggage, usually in exchange for a deep discount on the air fare.
Define ABC Tour - ABC tour. Slang. A playful term for a guided tour that crams in too many historical monuments. The “ABC” stands for “another bloodychurch.”
Define AARP - AARP. American Association of Retired Persons. Many hotels and other suppliers offer reduced AARP rates.
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Joke of the Day
ONLY A GRANDMOTHER WOULD KNOW... 
~A Cup of Tea ~ 
One day my Gramma was out, and my Grampa was in charge of me.
I was maybe 2 1/2 years old. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a gift, and it was one of my favorite toys.
Grampa was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought him a little cup of 'tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my Gramma came home.
My Grampa made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was 'just the cutest thing!' Gramma waited, and sure enough, here I came down the hall with a cup of tea for Grampa, and she watched him drink it up.
Then she said, (as only a gramma would know), "'Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?"

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Hotel or Time Share?
Have you ever thought about renting a “time share” instead of going to a hotel?  Why not check out the cost of a time share and compare it to your hotel cost, more amenities and cost effective. We have a “time share” for rent, send us an e-mail with the location of your vacation destination and we will see if we have one available in that area and what the amenities and costs are.  e-mail rosswin@shaw.ca
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I will be glad of any comments or corrections or if you wish to see something that is of interest to you please let me know. Thanks, Rhoda
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Rosswin Travel, Courtenay, BC
1 250-338-6334 / 1 866-517-2113
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Thank You.
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