By Gerald Townsend

The Annual Optimist fish derby was held last Saturday under unpredictable weather. Although the numbers were down the fish were certainly biting and that made kids and parents happy. No one seems to know how long this event has been running but I can remember it running in 1978 when I was a kid!! That means Denalda Green has provided her pond to the youth of the area for at least 35 years. The Optimist started it around the time of President Ralph Hamilton or President Jack Scarrow. Congratulations to Desmond Prendergast, first fish caught; Madison McCullough, biggest fish at 16 inches; Daniel McKibbon and Tegan Heffernan, most fish and Brytan Franken for the youngest fisherman. Thanks to Dan Farrelly for organizing this event again this year. Dan had hot dogs and drinks for all attending. Optimist Steve O’Neill has invited the Little Sisters and Little Brothers out for a night at the pond as well, so thanks to you and Marnie Mainland for setting this up.
Tickets for the riding lawn mower, push mower and whipper snipper are still for sale as Optimist Brock gets closer to draw date. This is a major fundraiser for the Optimists so do your best to buy a ticket or two.
Optimist Darryl Woods has Canada Day weekend well set up and all we need is for you to attend. Don’t forget the outdoor kid’s movie Sunday July 1st at the ball diamond.
In last week’s paper Lynne Smith challenged everyone to grow the biggest and best sunflower as a fundraiser for a needy child. I gladly called Lynne and ordered my seeds which I plan to plant this week. If I can get Mary to feed the new seeds like she feeds me, no one else has a chance. I may even set a butter tart close to the seeds to give them that extra goal in life!! I hope Joy Hutchison buys some seeds because after beating me at the Arthur Fair I owe her one. I’m sure with Harv’s special manure mixture of rabbit and chicken manure the sunflowers will do well. All Jim Gregson and Gil Reid will need to do is talk to the plants to make them grow! A good cause and some fun, thanks Lynne.
While attending a horse exercising session at the McDougall farm last Sunday I was fortunate enough to get one of Brenda Abate’s butter tarts. The only problem was Brenda put the tarts out for everyone and I only got one to eat and one to take with me to eat on the way out the lane!
Keep your eye on the paper for all that is happening in Arthur this summer like the Legion pig roast this weekend.
Don’t forget to give your kids a hug.