Work

Mark and Lisa Henderson are no strangers to tragedy.

As owners of Hillcrest Funeral Home in Vankleek Hill, the Hendersons are often called upon to help local individuals and families deal with the death of a loved one. Because they see death on an almost daily basis, the Hendersons never forget that completing all the necessary arrangements of a funeral service is a task most families face only a few times.

Despite a few closures and the near-miss of a major commercial development, Champlain Township's economic outlook is relatively rosy for a municipality of its size, according to its economic coordinator.

There's been a lot of new developments in Robert Hardy's life lately, as the Alexandria resident and composer prepares for the premiere of his musical in Toronto next spring.

Along with composer and music editor Willard Riley, the pair recently signed on with well-known conductor Kerry Stratton and artistic director Maria Margunova to produce the theatrical premiere of "The Fifth Day: A Musical," scheduled to premiere at the Phoenix Theatre in Toronto on April 5, 2012.

Farmers and appraisers across Ontario have been seeing a steady increase in farmland values in the last two to five years, particularly in the eastern and southwestern regions of the province.

According to Farm Credit Canada's most recent report, values increased an average of 2.4 per cent during the second half of 2010, following gains of 4.3 and 3.3 per cent in the two previous reporting periods.

Horace Nixon, of Burnacres Farms in L'Orignal, exhibited this year at the Vankleek Hill Fair for his 75th year.

That feat is only the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Nixon, who is widely considered to be one of the most innovative farmers in the local area.

We spend about one-third of our lives at work or thinking about work. But Natalie Paquette, owner of Jardin Jade Garden in Vankleek Hill would go even one step further: her business has been like a second home to her and to her family for the 15 years she has owned it.

As Paquette goes over the fine details of her business to help new owner Kerri Albright, who takes over September 1, the bigger lifestyle changes coming her way started to sink in.

Two local youth bands made a big splash at last week's Bluesfest in Ottawa, when they took to the stage as part of the festival's Be in the Band initiative.

Performances by The Vivid, featuring teenagers from both Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute and Glengarry District High School, and Under the Ladder, with youth from Pleasant Corners Public School and St-Finnan's in Alexandria, were both well received last Sunday, July 17.

Reno Viola is embarking on an ambitious mission to spread the word that Hawkesbury is a beautiful, vibrant and worthwhile town for tourists to visit.

Viola hosted three receptions for the media this month to welcome writers from various outdoor and tourism publications.

He says the project "is the first step to generate interest to Hawkesbury and area and feature the Ottawa River and the fishing and boating opportunities available."

A Canada-wide postal strike, effective Wednesday, June 12, has affected the normal delivery procedure of The Review.

After 12 days of rotating strike activity by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Canada Post decided to suspend mail service in urban areas across the country.