MuskokaTODAY
May 25th, 2001 - Volume 8 No.1

Happy 80th birthday
to Charlie Manchee!

One week ago, I mounted a step ladder outside the Inn at Roselawn to replace our Union Jack.
I couldn’t have picked a worse time!
A tall gentleman was coming up our path, wearing a military blue blazer and an ascot tie. He was appraising my fumbling attempts with a cool eye.
One glance told me I was about to meet the legendary Frank Manchee, who wrote a weekly column for the Muskoka Sun about 25 years ago on everything you needed to know about flag etiquette.
In that same instant, I suddenly remembered what irritated Frank Manchee more than anything else. He couldn’t stand idiots who flew the Union Jack upside down — an international sign of distress.
So, trying not to fall off my ladder, I squinted upwards.
Whew! The fat white bar was at the upper right. I had passed the acid test.
Much to my relief, Frank Manchee broke into a wide grin. “Great to see the Union Jack,” he enthused. “I only wish we saw more of them in Muskoka.”
Last weekend was definitely not the time to have a Union Jack flying upside down in Bala.
Everything had to be absolutely perfect because we were celebrating the 80th birthday of Charles (Charlie) Manchee, Frank’s kid brother (Frank, who has been coming up for 88 summers, stayed at our inn with his wife, Charmian.)
The Torrance Community Centre was absolutely packed with well-wishers and family on Saturday afternoon. Linda and I couldn’t stay for the speeches because of our museum commitment, but we saw enough to know that Charlie’s birthday tribute will be remembered as one of the highlights of this whole summer.
The people who crowded into the historic community centre were not just celebrating Charlie’s 80th milestone.
We were all celebrating the fact that the Manchee family has been coming to Bala Bay for more than a century.
Many people who boat by Manchee Point and the landmark boat anchor don’t realize that the Manchee family started off on the other side of Bala Bay.
The Manchees built their first cottage on Bala Park Island in the latter part of the 19th Century, and moved to what became Manchee Point years later.
In the 35 years that I have been lucky enough to be around Bala, I cannot think of any other summer family that commands more respect than the Manchees.
The Bala Aquatic Association has relied for as long as I can remember upon the support and leadership provided by various generations of Manchees, including Steve and Mike.
Someone who would agree with me is the late Gerry Dunn who, I am sure, is drinking a toast to Charlie’s birthday somewhere up there.
So happy birthday, Charlie. And next time I’ll hang around long enough to hammer out Happy Birthday on the old upright piano!
• • •
MIMI BLAIS
IS PRACTISING AGAIN
Many people have asked me how Mimi Blais is doing, after reading in my last column that the Montreal ragtime virtuoso’s playing has been affected by tendonitis.
Mimi says the tendonitis is in her shoulders and elbows – not her hands – and that she is gradually starting to practice again.
My hope is that Mimi listens to her doctor and doesn’t rush things. Years ago, she developed the habit of practising up to 13 hours a day and she still tends to push herself. Slow down, Mimi! We want you in good shape for the Feast of Ragtime concert at THE Op on Saturday, Sept. 1st. (I’m looking forward to being MC once again and perhaps playing a few of numbers with Mimi).
• • •
WHO’S WHO
IN MUSKOKA JAZZ
Muskoka writer Bruce Litteljohn has done a good job of writing about our wonderful local jazz talent in the current issue of Muskoka Magazine.
What Bruce doesn’t mention is that he and I used to jam together 30 years ago when Bruce was teaching at Upper Canada College and I was a young newspaper reporter living nearby.
Bruce, who plays a great trombone, used to invite friends to late night jam sessions at the college, well out of earshot of the sleeping students.
One local musician Bruce didn’t mention in his summary was Don Edwards of Bala, who is highly regarded across this continent as a great Dixieland banjo performer.
Don played on CKCO TV for years with the Sensation Jazz Band, whose members are now all honorary citizens of New Orleans. 
You don’t have to remind anyone on the Moon River about Don’s musicianship. Don gets a few of us together to serenade cottagers with Dixieland music at the end of each summer, cruising on his dad’s pontoon boat. Great fun!
• • •
START YOUR ACTING CAREER IN BALA
THIS SUMMER!
Jeff Shultis says there are still plenty of opportunities to join the cast of some of the plays that will be seen at the Bala Community Centre this summer.
Jeff is looking for a man and woman to join the cast of According to Murphy, and he also needs adults for Anne of Green Gables which will be seen in July. Call Jeff at 764-0747 to learn more.
Right now, Jeff is extremely excited about Cinderella, a fun play which will appeal to all ages. The actors, he says, are “an incredible bunch of kids from schools in Huntsville and Gravenhurst”.
Performances are Saturday, June 7th (7 pm) and Sunday, June 8th (1, 3 and 7 p.m.) at the Bala Community Centre.
Tickets, normally $12 and $10, are $7 in advance, available through the Bala General Store, Treasures and Trophies in Huntsville, and the Bookstore in Gravenhurst or Port Carling.
• • •
BALA LIBRARY
IS OPEN WEDNESDAY!
People are slowly realizing that the Bala Library is open between 2 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, as well as 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday.
Drop in and ask librarian Mari Carson about her most recent books, as well as the computer which has full Internet access. This is a first-class service, so let’s take advantage of it!
• • •
GARDEN AND COTTAGE TOUR
Don’t forget Bala’s second annual Garden and Cottage Tour which will be happening on Saturday, July 14th, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
For just $15, you can pick up your passport for a self-guided tour that includes relaxing over afternoon tea at the end. Pass-ports are available at local garden centres or the Bala visitor information centre, which will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. after July 1.
Congratulations to the West Muskoka Chamber of Commerce for this event.
• • •
BALA AMATEUR NIGHT
DINNER AND DANCE
This is happening Friday, June 8th, at the Kee to Bala, and should be great fun.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children (14 and under). I hear the local talent is going to be great, and Norm Bates is providing dance music.