GRAVENHURST - The long weekend got off to a gorgeous three-day start that began another official summer.

‘Team Hort’ catch their breath after a very successful plant and bake sale Saturday at the Gravenhurst Opera House.

And that means a lot of sun, fun, economic stimulation – and hard work.

Gardeners who have already been at it for weeks – ‘the early bird gets the worm’ – got to take advantage of the mid-20s weather thanks to the Horticulture Societies in Muskoka.

The Gravenhurst club held their annual plant and bake sale Saturday at the Opera House’s Heritage Square from 8 a.m. to noon, a great opportunity to not only pick up some fresh home-made sweets, but really to get the best perennial and gardens divisions in town.

The members parse their own gardens early each spring to offer some cuts and clippings from their best and favourite native species plants and offer them to knowing gardeners and rookies who want to get started on time and with great plants.

Not only do the plants go for a song – $3 or so – but you got to pick up valueable tips from real local professional gardeners who have been growing in Muskoka for decades.

The sale followed a visit to town Friday by Mark Cullen, a GTA expert, who helped Ian McNaughton open his Gravenhurst Home Hardware Garden Centre with a big celebration cake and questions and answer session.

This coming weekend the Bracebridge Horticultual Society hosts their plant and bake sale.

Plants were flying off the tables and into cars Saturday morning during the bargain of a sale.

Buyers also got the added bonus of the local expertise of the Gravenhurst gardeners who grew and donated the plants and divisions.

GRAVENHURST – The Muskoka Parry Sound Geneaology Group will hear about immigration lists dating back before 1865 at their next meeting Saturday May 25 at Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre in Gravenhurst at the MuskokaWharf .

They start at 10 a.m. and go to noon.

Pre 1865 Immigration Records (before passenger lists) presenter: Glenn Wright Attendees are welcome to tour through the Boat and HeritageMuseum.

All are welcome to attend Admission is $2 for guests; and memberships available For further information call Caroline Wood at 705-385-9732.

BRACEBRIDGE – Residents, businesses and governments in three Muskoka municipalities are among a dozen area communities that will receive provincial funding relief in the wake of spring flooding across central Ontario.

From Huntsville, down through Bracebridge and Gravenhurst – and even over in Haliburton – flood warnings were a daily worry this spring.

The $18 million will go for personal and public projects.

Bracecebridge Mayor Graydon Smith said he was informed Thursday afternoon that the province had approved government assistance for Bracebridge, Huntsville and Lake of Bay, all still recovering from the damage caused during unprecedented flooding in late April.

Bracebridge and Huntsville declared emergencies. No mention of Gravenhurst, Muskoka Lakes or Georgian Bay was made in the provincial funding announcement, for which the municipalities had to apply for.

MP Tony Clement said during a tour of the flooding that any federal funds would first have to first be seen by what the province was going to do.

The announcement from the province confirmed that Ontario is “helping communities in the central, eastern and northern parts of the province rebuild and recover from recent flood damage,” Smith said in a news release.

Provincial support is being provided through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program. The funding will help people in declared disaster areas clean up and repair their homes and small businesses.

Funding will also be used to rebuild essential municipal infrastructure like bridges and roads.

The province is committing up to $18 million to the affected municipalities through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program.

GRAVENHURST- Get growing with MUSKOKA FIELD NATURALISTS at a presentation on Planting With Native Species.

Rob Allen, of Northway Gardens, is the the speaker at our monthly meeting, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre, at Muskoka Wharf.

For more info go to www.muskokafieldnaturalists.com

BRACEBRIDGE - The local YWCA is looking at new ways and programs to support the women of Muskoka and their families.

And they’ve divided their popular Women in Business course into three parts now, to make it easier to particiapate and achieve the completion certificate. 

“We’ve been listening to your feedback and are responding by re-vamping what has been known as the Women in Business course, they say in a news release.

“Our aim is to improve access to our services by giving women more choice and flexibility regarding course dates and content.

The women’s programs (formerly Women in Business) will be offered in three different sessions:

- The Business of Life: Navigating Turning Points;

- Women in Business: Exploring the Entrepreneurial Adventure;

- Enterprising Women: Sustaining Business and Life.

How will the courses be structured?

Essentially the content will remain the same.

They are separating the course into three parts: two will offer essentially the same content as the traditional “WIB” course and a third section will offer workshops for those who have launched or are seriously considering launching their own businesses.

They want women to access one or both of these courses during the fall and winter.

The courses are as follows:

The Business of Life: Navigating Turning Points will focus on the skills necessary to manage transitions in our lives and develop resiliency. Transitions may include being unemployed or underemployed; returning to the work force; furthering education; new to the community; becoming sole-support parents or just longing to move forward along a personal journey. From budgeting to communications, from strategic planning to knowing your mind; these sessions will help identify personal strengths and build skills, knowledge and networks.

Women in Business: Exploring the Entrepreneurial Adventure will focus on the broad range of skills necessary to harness opportunities either as a business owner, employee or volunteer. From marketing to filing, from stress management to promotions, sessions will provide the basic skills needed to begin putting together a blueprint for your business presented from a woman’s perspective.

Enterprising Women: Sustaining Business and Life will provide networking opportunities and single-session workshops on a wide variety of topics.

They are busy updating and preparing for the new season and we welcome your input.

Programs will commence in late September. Watch the website for details on dates & locations. For more information, contact them at www.ywcamuskoka.com. Call us at 705-645-9827 or email: langell@ywcamuskoka.com .

HUNTSVILLE – Need help with your vision?

Visit the free Low Vision Clinic:

Date:                   Tuesday, May 28, 2013 

Time:                   10 a.m. – 1 p.m.          

Location:           Muskoka Traditions Retirement Home, 16 Legacy Ln.,  Huntsville, ON 

• Come learn about CNIB including low vision services, independent living skills, independent travel instruction, and the CNIB Library. 
• Browse products and technology for better living with vision loss. Products include large-print playing cards, talking clocks and specialty sunglasses. 

About CNIB

CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life. 

For more information, please contact: CNIB, 10-20 Anne St. S., Barrie, ON  L4N 2C6,1-800-563-0887

GRAVENHURST – Opening Day for the 22nd season of the Gravenhurst Farmers’ Market is May 22, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Muskoka Wharf events field.
They will be giving away annual plants to customers (one per family), and if you are in the right place at the right time you could win one of four beautiful hanging baskets at the market.
Come Savour the flavour of Muskoka.

BRACEBRIDGE - Mark your calendar for the Bracebridge Horticultural Society’s Plant and bake sale, which will take place on Saturday May 25th, 8am to approximately noon.
The location is the Millennium Gardens on Ecclestone Dr, east of Wellington.
There will be a good selection of Muskoka hardy perennials and biennials. Come early for the best selection.
The next general meeting of the Bracebridge Horticultural Society will be on Tuesday April 23 at 7:30 pm at 54 Dominion St. (Seniors Citizens’ Centre).
Their guest speaker will be Mike Schneider with a presentation on Organic Lawn and Turf Care.
Everyone is welcome. Guest fee applies. 2013 memberships are available. For more information please call 705-645-0004.

GRAVENHURST – The Catholic Women’s League of St. Paul’s Church in Gravenhurst is celebrating its 60th anniversary on Saturday June 1st, from 9:30 am to 2:30 p.m.
The day’s program includes welcome refreshments, a guest speaker, Christine Way-Skinner, and a catered lunch.
The afternoon segment will include prayers, the awards ceremony and final blessing.
A current member of the parish was present at the signing of the charter on Dec. 6, 1953.
Three other ladies joined that first year, in which Maisie Clairmont was its first president. They are still members of our council.
They’d like to issue an invitation to any ladies interested in joining them that day.
The luncheon cost is $5 for St. Paul’s CWL members and $10 for non-members.
RSVP to Jill Liberty 705-687-0878 by May 17th.