News from Utopia Hall
We are extremely grateful for your ongoing support and happy to let you know about the soon-to-be and longer term exciting happenings that are ahead of us at the Utopia Hall & Utopia Conservation Area.
Our Gristmill & Its Restoration
Fifty years ago, the gristmill was closed – and for any of you who have read the sign (and last sentence) posted on the front entrance of the mill – you know that it’s been waiting for the chance to be re-opened. While we still need more precious dollars, we are gearing up to start the gristmill’s restoration this Spring. Thank you for giving of your time and support to enable us to believe in the possible. We are very grateful to the NVCA for giving us the opportunity to be stewards of the wonderful property that is the Utopia Conservation Area and Bell’s Gristmill – and for Essa Townshipto direct support to our vision. And of course, to all of you and the many, many people who, through committee and/or event involvement, have allowed things to move in the restoration direction. More details to come but we are working with hope.
The Community Kitchen at the Utopia Hall
Again, a story of not giving up – we are honoured to be recipients of a grant from Farm Credit Canada to install a community commercial kitchen (including a dishwasher!) at the Utopia Hall. Our request to develop a venue to help support Local Food initiatives and advocates was amongst the fortunate ones selected from over 1100 community applications from across Canada. Your support in attending our events helped greatly with the credibility of our application. Thank you.
Upcoming Concerts
The Utopia Hall has been blessed with the most outstanding of talents from all walks of Life. When the restoration of the Utopia Hall happened a couple of years ago, in addition to a team of craftsmen who are the best in our land, we had the leadership (and hard work) of the late George Catt and Will Sjerps. There was no insulation, no washrooms, no accessibility ramp – but a beautiful building in a wonderful community nevertheless.
The building’s restoration was an incredible journey with all kinds of stories of innovativeness and ‘going beyond’ efforts.
One of many caring deeds was when George used recycled bits of styrofoam to insulate the building’s walls. He measured, cut and placed bits & pieces on the walls before the drywalling began. A labour of Love and work of Art.
And now, we have a building that has been declared by many of the very best of musical talents as having the ‘best acoustics’ in Ontario. For those of you who have been to our concerts, you have experienced the great, great sounds.
Please plan to join us (and please help us by telling your friends) at one (ALL) of our upcoming concerts, featuring musical talents that most would have to travel far distances to hear – and yet, they will be at the Utopia Hall (8396 6th Line, Utopia) in the coming days:
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1st – GATHERING SPARKS
Buffet Lunch @ 1pm; Concert @ 2pm
$15 in advance (includes Lunch Buffet); $20 at the door
Read about them and hear their Sounds by visiting: www.gatheringsparks.com
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7th – SULTANS OF STRING
Buffet Supper @ 6:30pm; Concert @ 7:30pm
$15 in advance (includes Supper Buffet); $20 at the door
Read about them and hear their Sounds by visiting: www.sultansofstring.com
Tickets for all the above events may be ordered by calling 1-877-499-HALL(4255) or visiting www.utopiahall.ca
AND LASTLY (at least for now) :
Solve your how do I say I love you? ‘situations’ by ordering a Valentine’s box of sweets & treats and help with our fundraising efforts for the Utopia Gristmill Restoration. Your precious $10 bill can be exchanged for a box of sweet treats with the added bonus of a sample jar of pickled eggs (we have a wide range of innovative talents on our fundraising committee). Call Steph @ 705 737 9821 by February 5th. The orders will be ready for pick-up on Saturday February 7th (either in the morning from 10am – noon or at our SULTANS OF STRING dinner & concert that evening).
SEEDY Saturday is scheduled for Saturday March 7th from 10am – 2pm. A great time to swap seeds and tips with all who love the earthly delights of gardening. Free admission.
Thanks again for all that you make possible. Hope to see you soon.
susan, steph & mike, tyrone, danielle, jim & christie
PS – Recent donations to our book-sharing table include:
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Underpainter by Jane Urquhart
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes
Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks
The Fatal Shore (The epic of Australia’s founding) by Robert Hughes
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
The Utopia Hall is open every Saturday morning from 10am – noon. Well-brewed coffee/tea, yummy eggs and toast complement good catch-up chats and warm welcomes. Everyone invited.
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