NEWS RELEASE          For release June 25, 2008

News briefs for June 25, 2008

Come to Southampton harbour to see Pathfinder and Playfair moored and take an onboard tour (donation requested).

The ships arrive about 10 a.m. on Saturday the 19th and depart on the 20th. A flotilla of local vessels will greet the visitors and escort them into harbour. On shore, there'll be a piper, band and a food tent.

Visit of the tall ships is a Marine Heritage Society project in support of Southampton's 150th anniversary. Sponsors are Tim Hortons, Burke's Foodland and Doug Welsh Construction.

July 25, Incorporation Day Commemoration -- The birth of Southampton 150 years ago will be celebrated by a special event on July 25.

Ceremonies will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Flag, at the foot of High St. Piper Michael Smith will lead us to Town Hall, at the corner of High St. and Albert St., for the 7 p.m. start of a play especially commissioned for the occasion, and presentation of a historical plaque.

The play, written by Deanna Underwood and featuring actors of Performing Arts of Saugeen Shores, will bring to life the incorporation of the village of Southampton and the meeting of its first council in 1858, with participation of today's council, in the spirit of the "Then and Now" theme. The audience is encouraged to attend in period dress.

The plaque will mark the place of the first village council meeting and is a legacy of the 2008 festivities. (Another is a series of outdoor historical signs at strategic locations.)

The evening concludes with a reception offered by the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, a short walk away at the museum.

Wine from Pelee Island -- On June 25 Pelee Island Winery is releasing specially-labelled wines in honour of Southampton's 150th anniversary. You'll want to buy a bottle, or a case, of these red and white VQA wines, on sale at the LCBO on Friday, June 27.

The white wine, Chardonnay VQA (CSPC 136044), is named "Sailors' Delight". The red, Gamay Noir (CSPC 216028), is called "Capt. Spence". Labels carry a short historical text and the 150th logo.

High Street to close, takes on carnival atmosphere -- Saugeen Shores town council has approved closing High Street to traffic for the 150th parade, which starts at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, and for many other street events. The road closing on Aug. 16 runs from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. and covers Victoria Street to Albert Street (Highway 21), and Albert Street to the Flag. (The parking areas at the arena/annex and the boat house will also be closed 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for 150th events.)

During the closing High Street takes on a festive atmosphere with musicians, costumed performers and sidewalk sales. Down the centre of the street will be floats from the parade so all can admire the handiwork of the decorators. Restaurants have been invited to move tables outside to make sidewalk cafés on Saturday afternoon. Store fronts will be embellished with red-and-white bunting and bows.

From Grosvenor to the Flag, the street will come alive with the OLG Antique Car show and music all afternoon at the Heritage Tent (a great meeting and greeting place).

There will be food and refreshments to delight any landlubber. Walk the boardwalk to get to beach volleyball and kite flying.

Period costumes take us back in time -- Appropriate period costumes are essential to the "Then and Now" theme of Southampton's 150th anniversary celebrations.

Costume coordinator Connie Barker has been consulting with the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre and local actors and directors to keep costuming as close to the historical era as possible.

She has worked with Mennonites to acquire two suits for Captain Spence which will then go on loan to the Marine Heritage Society and find their way to the International Plowing Match this fall.

You may spot actors in white shirts, suspenders, long dresses and fancy hats--in a play or just walking down the street. The Village of Southampton in 1858 will live again through story-telling and plays which are sure to delight young and old.

The history of Southampton will be told by the Heritage Players, costumed actors playing historical characters and stationed at set locations on the street. They interact with the public, bringing history alive while playing the roles of lighthouse keeper Lambert, Capt. Spence, Annie Longe and others.

Productions are a collaboration of Katherine Leonard (who does the famous Ghost Walks) and Performing Arts of Saugeen Shores.

Going green -- The Southampton 150th anniversary festivities are leading the way with a green policy of reusable products.

At the Heritage Tent patrons will buy reusable plastic mugs for beer or wine and write their names on them. The mugs have 150th anniversary decoration and will allow entry into the tent for all four days. The health department is thrilled with this arrangement and is looking to write similar policy for festivals to come.

At registration environmentally-friendly cloth bags will be used to hold all of the goodies which you get when you register for the 150th. Similar environmentally-friendly cloth bags should appear soon on the streets of Saugeen Shores. Downtown merchants in Southampton and Port Elgin have joined to bring these to our community through the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce.