Thumbs - Scugog Heritage

FOCUS - JUNE 2009 11

Thumbs up - to another Scugog school. This time it’s the small but vibrant Cartwright High School that deserves kudos. The school was recently ranked as the top secondary school in Durham Region by the Fraser

Institute. Congratulations to the students and staff for their achievement. And did you know that the school, located in Blackstock, is the smallest high school in the region.

Thumbs Down - to the designers of our newly paved and curbed Paxton St., who narrowed the width of the last section of road before the intersections with bump-outs. At least two drivers have reported mounting the

curb with their car, not realizing the pavement narrows just before the intersection. Bad enough for motorists, but imagine the frustration for snow removal. Seems like a poor plan... but we’re sure there’s a logical explanation.

Thumbs up - to the gals at Ooh, La La and Over Her Shoul-der who held an overwhelming successful food drive for the local animal shelter. Debi and Sandy were shocked by the amount of food dropped off at their

store during their Panties, Purses and Pooches promo last month. And of course all the animals at the shelter give ‘four furry paws up’ for the generosity of the Scugog community.

Thumbs Down - to Durham Region for closing down the Port Perry garbage transfer station on the Saturday follow-ing Easter Friday. Since almost every business in town was open, why close the dump? Especially on a long-

weekend when residents typically do a spring cleaning of their garages and yards. It’s no wonder people get frustrated and dump garbage in ditches, especially after loading trucks and trailers with garbage only to find the gates closed.

Thumbs up - to Pam Henshall for following through with her retirement plans, despite the loss of her beloved husband Bill a few months ago. Pam operated her Henshall’s Clothing and Gifts shop for 17 years and

has given back to the community in many ways. While her positive spirit and bright smile will be missed along Queen St., we know Port Perry hasn’t seen the last of this admired lady. Congrats Pam. Enjoy your well earned rest.

Thumbs

12 FOCUS - JUNE 2009

“ArtattheWaterfront”ishappeninginhistoricaldown-townPortPerry,Saturday,June13andSunday,June14,from9:30a.m.to5:00p.m.ArtistsofthePortPerryArtists’Associa-tionhavebeenworkingallyeartocreatenewandexcitingworksinoil,acrylic,watercolour,pastelandmore. Locatedinaparksettingonthewater,theLatchamCentreiswheretheshowtakesplace.Parkingandentryarefree.Adrawticketforapaintingbyoneoftheartistsisoffered.Refreshmentsareavailable.TakeQueenStreettoWaterStreetandlookfortheshowsigns. Forfurtherinformation,[email protected],orcallJeanat(905)985-1112.

Artists show their creations at annual waterfront show


wastypicalofmostteenagersatPortPerryHighSchoolinthemid1970s.Hewasn’tsureofhiscareergoals.Helovedmusicandplayedtheguitarandfantasizedaboutbecomingamusician.HehadnoideathatsomedayhewouldbemakingguitarsforsomeofthemostfamousmusiciansofourtimeandhecertainlyneverthoughtthathisworkwouldbecommemoratedonaCanadiancoin. GeorgewasborninHungary,butduringtheRevolutionof1956,whenGeorgewasoneyearold,hisparentsdecidedtoescapethecommunistregimeandmaketheirwaytoCanada.TheyeventuallysettledinGreenbank. DuringhisyearsatPortPerryHighSchool,Georgedevelopedaninterestinmusicandlikemostteenagers,dreamedaboutbeingamusician.ButGeorgewasalsoextremelypractical.Intherealworldheknewthatheneededa“backupcareer”andhefoundthatatGeneralMotors. Whileworkingtherehemaintained

hisloveofmusicandparticularlyhisloveofstringedinstruments.Heregu-larlyattendedconcertsattheOshawaVitalSparkFolkClubusuallyteamingupwithanotherlocalmusicalenthusiastMogensGalbergforthedrivetoOs-hawa.TogethertheydecidedtoorganizetheGreenbankFolkMusicSocietyandpresentconcertsattheGreenbankCen-tennialCommunityHall. “Imanagedtoescapethe‘Motors’bygettingajobatLadoGuitarswhichatthetimewaslocatedjustoutsideUx-bridge,”Georgesaid.Herehelearnedtheartandcraftofguitarmaking.Turn-inganunusedshedonhisfather’sprop-ertyintoaworkshop,hebegancraftinghisowninstrumentsandtookupthetrueartofaluthier(guitarmaker). RatherthanimportingrareandexpensivewoodsfromtheFarEast,Georgeexperimentedwithlocalwoodstodevelopuniquetones. Hisfirstbigbreakthroughcamein1992whenhecontactedlegendarysinger-songwriterJamesTaylorandof-feredtomakehimaguitar.Taylorwasimpressedwiththequalityofthework-

manshipandthesounditproduced. In1998Georgedecidedtoexpandhisenterprisebutatthesametimetofindauniquelocationforhisworkshop.TheideaofNovaScotia,withitsmusicaltraditions,itscleanairandrelaxedlifestylewasirresistible.GeorgeandhiswifeLisafounda27acrehomesteadofrollingwoodedlandscapeonthebanksoftheLaHaveRivernearBridgewater,a

Where are they now?

Georgebuilds‘guitarsfor thestars’

George with the guitar he made in 2001 for Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. Inset photo, George as a Grade 10 student at PPHS in 1972.

Singer, songwriter James Taylor

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perfectplacetoraisetheirthreechil-drenandtoperfecthiscraftasaluthier.George’sparentslatermovedtoNovaScotiatobeneartheirsonandgrandchil-dren. Thewoodsonhispropertyandneighbouringcountrysideprovidedanabundanceofmoretraditionalwoodssuchascherry,yellowpoplarandbirds-eyemapleaswellasmorerarewoodssuchasblackash,hawthorn,wildapple,tamaracandbutternut.“Eachwoodhasitsownparticularuseandproducesitsowntone,”Georgeclaims. Thisuniqueenvironmentinspiredhiscreationoftraditionalacousticguitars,mandolinsandmodernelectricguitars.Healsoconductedguitarbuildingwork-shops. BeforelongGeorgewasmakingcon-tactswithseveralbignameinstrumental-istssuchasLevonHelmsandRickDanos,BobDylan’sbackupmusicians.CorkieLangintroducedhimtoNoelReddingamemberoftheJimmyHendrixExperi-ence.ReddingboughtaRizsanyiguitar. ThroughNoelReddingandCharlieKarp,hewasintroducedtoKeithRichardsoftheRollingStones.RichardsorderedtwoRizsanyiguitars. Truetohiscraftasaluthier,in2003GeorgemadeapilgrimagetoCremonainItaly,thehomeoftheworld’sgreatestviolinmakerStradivari.“ItwasatrulyinspirationalexperienceintheStradi-variMuseumseeingmillionsofdollarsworthofinstrumentsofthemaster,andallhistools.Areallyamazingandinspirationalexperience,”Georgeadded. “IwouldlovetosetupaguitarmakingschoolinItalysomeday.It’sadream,”hesays,and,withabigsmileheadded,“BestwineI’veevertasted.” InadditiontoJamesTaylor,CharlieKarpandNoelRedding,ownersofRizsanyiguitarsincludePeterGabriel,Sting,ValdyandBruceCockburn.EvenactorDonaldSutherlandandpoliticianJackLaytonownRizsanyiguitars. AftermeetingGeorge,awardwinningCBCbroadcasterJowiTaylorsetoutonaprojecttousetheguitartosymbolizenationalunity.Beginningin1995hesetouttogathermaterialsfromacrossCanadatobeusedbyGeorgetocreateaspecialguitar.Taylorcollectedatotalof64piecesofwood,metalandstoneincludingpiecesofWayne

George, centre, with Keith Richards (right) and Charlie Karp (left) taken in November 2001 with their Riszanyi guitars.

Gretzky’sandPaulHenderson`shockeysticks,NancyGreene’schildhoodski,PierreTrudeau`spaddleanddeckingfromthe“Bluenose.”

Mostofthefrontpiecewasmadefroma300yearoldgoldenspruce,thereveredtreeoftheHaidaGwaiiofB.C.Georgebuilttheguitarinsixweeks,completingtheprojectinApril2006. “Forme,”saysGeorge,“themostevocativepieceofwoodwasaninsidestrutmadefromPier21inHalifaxwheremyparentsandIenteredCanadasomanyyearsago.” Theguitar,namedthe“SixStringNationGuitar,”wasusedbymanytopentertainersatthe2006CanadaDaycelebrationsinOttawa.CBCalsopro-

ducedaonehourdocumentaryontheSixStringNationGuitarwhichfirstairedinJuly2006.

Theinstrumenthassincetravelledthenationtofestivals,concerts,schoolsandcommunityevents. TorecognizethisspecialguitarandGeorgeRizsanyi`sworkinit,the

Above, George, with one of his hand crafted guitars.

Left, the unique ‘Six String Nation Guitar.’


RoyalCanadianMinthasjustreleasedanunusualtriangularcommemorativefiftycentcoin.ThecentreofthecoinhasahologramsymbolizingGeorgeRizsanyi’sSixStringNationGuitar.Thecoin,alongwithadescriptivecoveroutliningGeorge’sworkcanbeorderedfrombanksorthePostOffice. Anincrediblehonourforalocalladwithalovefortheguitar.

By Paul ArculusFocus on Scugog

The Royal Canadian Mint has recently released its second-ever triangular coin, featuring a selective hologram to commemorate the ‘Six String Nation Guitar.’ This coin will strike a chord with all Canadians. Music lovers will quickly notice how it’s shaped like a guitar pick - the perfect tie-in to the ‘Six String Nation Guitar.’ The guitar is the brainchild of broadcaster Jowi Taylor, in collaboration with luthier George Rizsanyi. This one-of-a-kind instrument is made of wood, bone, metal and stone from across the country.

50-Cent Triangle Coin

to commemorate the

Six String Nation Guitar

(2009)


ManypeopleinScugogareblessedwithspecifictalentsmostofwhichgounnoticed,buteverynowandthensomeonecomesalongthatstandsoutfromthecrowdandtheirstorymustbesharedwitheveryone. OnesuchpersonisTerryMacDonald,awomanwholivesaquiet,peacefulexistence,yethasaccomplishedsomethingmanyofussimplydreamabout. Lastyear,TerryplayedaroundofgolfatSummerleaGolfcourseandwhenshetee’doffonthe18thholeherballwentinthecuponthefirststroke. Now,ahole-in-oneasfantasticasitmaybe,isnotthatnewsworthy,asitdoeshappenfromtimetotime.WhatmakesthisuniqueisthatthiswasTerry’sfourthhole-in-one. Bytheway,didImentionthisenergetic,bright-eyed,white-hairedgrandmotheris86yearsold? TerrywasborninPrinceAlbert,Saskatchewanandlikemostpeopleinthe1920sand30sgolfwasnotontheagenda.Infact,Terry,asidefromplayingbaseballwhenshewasyoung,wasbusyraisingafamilyoftwogirlsandaboy. TerrymovedfromPrinceAlberttoThePas,Manitoba(aboutasfarnorthasyouwouldwanttogo),wheresheworkedasafurrier.“IstillhaveoneoftheoriginalcoatsImade,”Terrysaid,withasmileonherface. In1953TerryandherfamilymovedtoUtica,whereherhusbandRaymonddroveatruck.WhenshewasinhermidfiftiesRaymondpassedawayandTerryfoundherselfwithverylittletokeepheroccupied.

Swingin’ SeniorWhile some people golf a lifetime and never get a hole-in-one... this 86 year old dynamo has ‘sunk’ four in her short golfing career


ItappearsasifPortPerrywillgiveanothertryatoperatingalocalFarmer’sMarketthissummer. Scugogcouncilapprovedarequestrecentlyfromlocalfarmerstoholdthemarketthroughthesummermonths. Plansareforthemarkettocom-

menceoperationsonJune27atthetownshipparkinglot(beside the lakefront playground)andoperateituntilThanks-giving,dependingonitspopularity. Farmer’sMarketorganizersarehopingtoattractavarietyofvendors,sellingproductsrangingfromfreshproducetomaplesyrup,andhomebaking.ThemarketvendorswillopentheirboothstothepubliconSaturdaysfrom8a.m.tonoon. Itishopedthecommunitywillsupportthisinitiativeandifsuccessfulin2009willbuildtobecomebiggerandbetterinthefuture.

We’resuremostresidentsofthecommunityhaveheardorreadaboutWalmartplanningtoopenatthewesternedgeoftown,butmaynothaveheardthattheprojectisnow‘onhold’. Whileplanshavebeenunder-wayformorethanthreeyears,it

appearsthisprojecthasbeenputonthebackburnerforanindefinitetime. RecentcommentsfromOrnellaRichichi,avicepresidentofdevelopmentwiththepropertyownerSmart!Centres,indicatessheisunsurewhenworkwillgetunderwayonthesiteagain,butinsistedthere’sadefiniteinterestinthePortPerrymarket. WhileMs.Richichididn’tputthefullblameontheslug-gisheconomy,shedidfeelithasplayedaroleinthedelay. Meanwhilelocalbusinessleaders,whoareconcernedabouttheeffectsofthelargedevelopment,saytheywel-comethedelay.

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just a few things we think are worth knowing... if you didn’t already!

In The News... Herkids,grownupbythistime,wereafterTerrytotakeupsomeactivitytofillhertime.HersonKen,anavidgolfer,insistedshetrythegame. “Iusedtoalwayswonderhowtheycouldsitinfrontofthetelevisionsetandwatchthatridiculousnonsense,”Terrysaid,shakingherhead. Well,shetriedaroundandneverlookedback.HerfirstgamewasatSummerleaGolfCourse,justsouthofPortPerry,nearly30yearsagoandshestillplaystheretoday. NotonlydoesTerryplayfourtimesaweek,butshealsowalksthehillycourse.“Golfjustcamenaturallytome.I’mnotanathleteandneverhavebeen,butIenjoythegame.” Terryhaswonthe‘lowesthandicap’awardthreeyearsandthe‘lowgross’awardsixtimes.Alongwithherfourhole-in-onetrophies,shehasalsowontheLadiesLeagueChampionship. LastyearTerryshota63,butthatwasnotherlowestscore.Anumberofyearsago(shecouldnotrememberexactlyhowmany)Ishota59,oneoverpar.” Shesaiditsomatter-of-factlythatIfoundmyselfchucklingathergreatsenseofhumour. TerrynowlivesinPortPerryandstillcutsherownlawn.ShewalksregularlyinthewinterandlastMarch17playedaroundofgolf.“Itwastoughtofindtheballinthesnow,butwehadfun.” ChattingwithTerryMacDonaldmakesyourealizehowmuchsheenjoysherlife.Ateighty-six,shehasaccom-plishedmorethanmostofushalfherage.

By Jonathan van BilsenFocus on Scugog





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Thumbs - Scugog Heritage