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The town of Hudson, Quebec, its places, people and businesses online.
News for May, 2006
- Stevie Reilly's Drug Dealer gets probation
- Ratcliffe Family establishes scholarship
- Hudson Seniors' Festival May 15
- Oka Ferry Hearings Finished
- Theatre Panache Studio Show a Hit at Riversmead
- Benson Park gets Overhaul
The Hudson Youth who supplied the drugs leading to Stevie Reilly's death has been sentenced to time served and two years probabtion. He pled guilty to trafficking, sexual touching and obstruction of justice. He must live with his mother, comply with a 10:00 pm curfew and do 150 hours of community service. Stevie's parents, Dawn and Greg Reilly, believe the sentence is far too lenient and will encourage the selling of drugs to young people. Some residents wondered what underage teens would have to do to actually get jail time. The teen's family has moved to Ontario and he is apparently happy to no longer be living in Hudson.
The Ratcliffe family and the Hudson volunteer firefighters have reached an agreement on the James Ratcliffe Fund which will provide an annual scholarship of $1500.00 per year to a deserving student from Hudson High School. The money is for up to three years full-time university studies after CEGEP and the fund will be managed by the fire department while the student will be chosen by a committee of Westwood High staff based on an application which will include an essay. Criteria for being chosen will be based more on community involvement and good citizenship rather than only academic qualifications. The scholarship will be first awarded to a 2006 graduate.
The annual Hudson Seniors' Festival kicks off Monday, May 15 with a bridge party at the Community Centre and then a trip to Ottawa for the tulip festival on Tuesday. The following week the Nostalgia Pub Quiz on Monday will be followed by Tai Chi and Bingo on Wednesday and the Closing Luncheon on Friday. Call Franca Gramegna at the Hudson Community Centre at 458-6699 for more details.
The Oka Ferry debate now enters a quiet time while the BAPE environmental committee draws up its report and recommendations for the government. The public hearing process is mandatory in Quebec for this kind of project but the government is not bound to act on the report which will only be of an advisory nature. Residents can also expect Transport Canada to apply pressure for changes in the way the ferry operates, especially since the owner has himself repeatedly reported safety incidents over the recent past. Meanwhile rumours persist that, if the new boats are approved, the price of a ferry ride will increase substantially. One price being mentioned, of $17.00 each way, would probably mean that fears for an increase in traffic are groundless.
For the past year Theatre Panache, Heather Markgraf-Lowe's new venture into theatre, has been giving theatre classes in its studio on Cameron, across from Jim's Video Store. The classes are open to anyone but also serve as training for acting positions at the customs officer school in Rigaud. To qualify, theatre students must have a year of training and performance experience. At the end of their session, this year's students performed "The Dining Room" in the dining room at Riversmead. The four performances, including a dinner theatre on Saturday, were sold out and the audience were treated to a high quality production with many excellent performances by the cast of ten. The unique setting and the intimate seating for 30 made for a wonderful eveing of theatre.
Benson Park is finally getting a facelift, just in time for the opening of the softball season. The Hudson Mixed Softball League has been promised a sloped field to improve drainage, better turf and proper dugouts. Unfortunately work is months behind schedule and will now only be completed by June 1. The league expects to compensate for the delay and cancelled games by having to cancel fewer games during the season due to the improved drainage.