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Broadway Comes to Apsley!
NOISES OFF A BIG HIT!Other peoples’ misfortunes once again prove to be addictively hilarious in the local production of Noises Off by the Blackfly Summer Theatre Company put on in the Apsley Community Centre last month. Known to be one of the funniest plays in decades, Noises Off proves once again to be a great comedy for all ages, and was enjoyed by many during its 8-show run in mid August, kicking off opening night on August 11th with a very successful showing. 
Noises Off is a play about a play presenting a comedic story about a hapless English acting group who are rehearsing a production called Nothing On for tour. The play involves tons of door slamming, confusion, sexual tensions, and of course, sardines at every turn. The play opens with director Lloyd Dallas (Rory McRandall) drilling his cast at their final rehearsal only hours from their opening performance. The cast features several characters including Dotty (Pippa Strachan) who constantly forgets her lines, the old and partially deaf Selsdon (Michael Wendt), nervous wreck Philip Brent (Jim Henry), Brooke (Karen Bujas), Garry (Paul Douglas), and Belinda (Marnie Mackay). As the play progresses, the usual squabbling between the cast members transform into a much more severe feud as the actors struggle to keep the play going, and kill each other simultaneously. By the last performance, the actors are just struggling to get through. Props become misplaced, lines are forced to be improvised, confusion is at its peak, and sardines go flying everywhere in a high-energy, highly entertaining concluding act. While everyone delivered an excellent performance, the character Selsdon – played by Michael Wendt – proved to be the most memorable character in the production with his hilarious lines delivered with strength and confidence. His random confused appearances and well-staged actions promote a huge amount of humour, especially with his appearance in the final act during the last performance of Nothing On. Even more impressive, this was Michael’s first performance on stage, and he says it will not likely be his last. Additionally, a great performance was delivered by 16-year-old Karen Bujas, who is also a rookie to the stage with Noises Off being her second major on-stage performance, and her first full length production. Everyone performed extremely well, and the audiences of the shows were more than impressed with the performances. We can’t wait to see what’s in-store for next year’s performance as Blackfly intends to continue with their Apsley productions in the summertime for years to come, and strengthen ties between the communities of Apsley and Bancroft. 
Above: Selsdon
Mowbray played by actor Michael Wendt.
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Letter to the Editor:
100+ Collective Years of Volunteer Service UP IN SMOKE On behalf of Captain Tucker and myself I would like to thank the volunteer firefighters from Station 2 of the North Kawartha Fire Department for the many years of service and dedication to your community. It's too bad that Council would not support us and we had to take desperate measures and resign from our positions. Positions that we were proud to hold. I feel bad for the residents of North Kawartha Township but we were up against a wall and felt there was no alternative. The community has lost a great bunch of volunteers who collectively have over 100 years of volunteer service. The Township can replace the positions but they can never replace the dedication and spirit of these men. Thanks goes out to the following members: Scott Jeff, Rick Evans, Craig Tracey, Charlie Nesbitt, Gordon Earnshaw all 13 years of service; Ernie Hill, Jeremy Wilson, Sid Donia, Jim McLoud all 3 years of service; Bert Donia, Jon Trotter both 14 years of service; Wally Tucker 18 years of service. A special thanks to Captain Wally Tucker who always represented your interest even though it fell on deaf ears. It has been a pleasure to work along side of all of you. Words cannot express how truly grateful I am of your service, respect and dedication. You served your community well. After 25 years of dedicated service it breaks my heart to have to hand in my resignation for a service I truly loved. Mark Kemp, Former Captain North Kawartha Fire Service Station 2 Apsley: The Bear Facts
By Roy Allen Who invited the bears to Apsley? What keeps them around? Since there is a shortage of natural food in the forest and the bear is a scavenger, what better place for a meal than at a dump. Anstruther appears to be exquisite because 17 bears have been seen on site at one time. It looks like our dumps are the attraction. Bears will wander in search of food in a backyard or campground lured by the smell of a BBQ or garbage. If you have an easy source of food, the bear will keep returning, so clean up properly. A bear is a frequent traveller and it is nearly impossible for a bear to make its daily excursion without walking through someone’s property. Remember, so-called "nuisance" or problem bears aren't bred, they're made by our actions. If bears are hanging around, then something is attracting them. Find the attraction, remove it, and the bears will move on. When food is scarce, a bear may travel hundreds of kilometres, sometimes coming into contact with humans and villages such as Apsley. Never approach or antagonize a bear, and never feed them. Treat a bear with caution and always respect a bear’s need for space. A recent Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) article stated that bear attacks are extremely rare; they avoid people if given the chance. In Algonquin Park between 1978 and 1991 there were two fatal bear attacks. During that time the park had 8 million visitors, most of whom never even saw a bear. Regarding the shooting of an aggressive bear, get a ruling from the MNR. Remember, bears are protected. So be wise, show the bear respect, and don't forget caution. In Canada, the black bear population is estimated at 400,000. To help you educate yourself about bears and for your safety there is a guide put out by the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Bear Safe is offered free of charge to the public. It is aimed at reducing human-bear conflict for hikers, cottagers, campers, and homeowners; call 1-800-363-9772 to get a copy. Remember, respect a bear, show caution, and never provoke a bear - it's dangerous. 
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