Come to a Christmas Celtic Kitchen Ceilidh!

The fundraiser we originally planned for October has been rescheduled and restructured to provide a more informal event in the comfortable setting of the Perth Museum Kitchen and Visitor Centre. Please join us for a Christmas Celtic Kitchen Ceilidh on Friday, Dec. 6 starting at 7:30 p.m.!

For this special heritage event the kitchen area of the Perth Museum and Visitor Centre will be turned into a “Kitchen Ceilidh” with music provided by Cratur, our favourite band from the popular summer Dinner/Theatre series.

Ceilidhs are parties that feature singing and dancing to Scottish or Irish traditional music along with storytelling, so you know you’re in for a fun evening. There will also be a fine selection of silent auction items to tempt you and some wonderful donated door prizes.

“We were looking for an affordable and comfortable way to bring together our members, volunteers and the community to raise some money for the ongoing operations of our Heritage Mica Days festival,” says event coordinator Beth Peterkin. “The Scottish and Irish theme of the ceilidh reflects the early history of the Perth Military Settlement area, including the first homesteaders in what is now known as Murphys Point Provincial Park in Tay Valley Township.” The Heritage Mica Days annual festival celebrates the history of the Silver Queen Mica Mine at Murphys Point Provincial Park from the early 1900s along with the cultural heritage of the area.

Tickets are $20 in advance and are available online at www.heritagemicadays.ca, in person at the Shadowfax store on Foster Street in Perth (cash only), by email at eventsmurphys@ripnet.com or by calling 613-267-5340.  Tickets will also be available at the door for $25.

Funds raised will be used to purchase equipment and supplies to enable the Friends to bring a quality festival to the community in 2014. We hope to see you on Dec. 6! Bring your toe-tapping shoes!

Christmas fundraiser poster

Posted in Friends of Murphys Point, Heritage, Heritage Mica Days, Heritage Mica Festival, Mica Festival, mica mine, Murphys Point, Murphys Point events, Murphys Point Provincial Park, Silver Queen Mine, Tay Valley Township, visitors centre, Volunteer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome, Baby Ratsnake!

Exciting news, from Murphys Point!

“Mica” the Visitor Centre Ratsnake and “Lady Gray,” the female ratsnake who spends her summers at Charleston Lake Provincial Park, are parents! By association, Murphys Point staff are the guardians of little Baby Snake (better name to come…perhaps a new fundraising campaign?).

The new addition - Baby Ratsnake. (Photo courtesy of Alida Lemieux)

The new addition – Baby Ratsnake. (Photo courtesy of Alida Lemieux)

At four weeks old, the new addition to our interpretive family is beautifully patterned, fiesty and great at hiding under its water dish. We thank the folks at Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo in Ottawa, who incubated the snake eggs and took great care of Baby in its first weeks of life!

Stay tuned for more baby news!

Posted in flora and fauna, Friends of Murphys Point, Gray Ratsnake, Murphys Point, Murphys Point Provincial Park, visitors centre | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

2013 Raffle Winner Receives Prize!

A hearty congratulations to Michael and Kerry-Anne Cartile of Montreal, Quebec, winners of the 2013 Friends of Murphys Point Park canoe raffle! They visited the park with Friends on Sunday to pick up their prize.

Above, from left: Cindy Deachman, Friends treasurer; Michael and Kerry-Anne Cartile, raffle winners; Chris Jones, Park Warden; and Stephanie Gray, Friends president.

Above, from left: Cindy Deachman, Friends treasurer; Michael and Kerry-Anne Cartile, raffle winners; Chris Jones, Park Warden; and Stephanie Gray, Friends president.

The winning ticket was sold at the Park Store in August. The Cartiles won a 16-foot, fibreglass Trailhead Prospector Canoe from Ottawa Paddle Shack, along with two paddles and two PFDs (donated by Canadian Tire in Perth). The whole package is worth about $1,500 and proceeds support our programs.

Thanks to all who supported the raffle!

Posted in canoe raffle, canoe winner, Friends canoe winner, Friends of Murphys Point, Murphys Point Provincial Park | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment