Have you stopped by the Morris Multiplex lately? It is hotter in the building than Hades was while Selinger was premier of the province. You think someone was stoking a fire.
Dan Sullivan is the rink guy that is making ice for a party. He tells me the building cooling plant compressors were brought on line, in preparation for making hockey ice. Running the plant initially tends to make the buildings a little warmer.
Hose hugger Nick (left) and Dan on the sprayer at Morris Multiplex. /SEAN CONWAY
On August 6, the first layer of water started to freeze. Each flood layer Dan and his hose hugger partner Nick Third put down water using a garden hose.
It takes three weeks to build up enough layers to create between 1.25 and 1.5 inches of ice. Sandwiched in the ice is one layer of frozen water coloured white and another layer of ice coloured for lines and logos. The white ice and lines are like a layer of mayonnaise evenly spread on a roast beef sandwich with a few lines of mustard added for taste.
Mon. Aug. 22 at 4 p.m. is the delivery date for the ice surface. The hockey school has ice booked on that date to start their season.
To further my research I inquired about curling ice. I was informed that getting ice ready for hockey and figure skating has it’s challenges. Curlers are too fussy and blame the ice when they are not successful so Dan doesn’t make their ice. As a hockey player I have to agree when Dan says, “You never hear a hockey player complain he missed a shot because of ice conditions.”
I guess this would be a good time to introduce myself. I have taken on the task of reporting on news in Morris for the Southeast Journal newspaper. A fan of my writing, Vie Skoglund, put in a good word for me to get this writing gig. Grandma Vie was an avid reader of my column when I wrote for the Lance Community Newspaper in Winnipeg. I have also written short stories and technology articles for magazine publication.
I confess, I’m a new resident of Morris, Manitoba. My wife and I moved here in June to be closer to family. I will be looking for events around our town to report on. Drop me an email at morrissej@mymts.net if you have an event or activity that could be reported in the Morris section of the Southeast Journal community newspaper.
On Aug. 10, Altona, author Marlene Plett performed a reading from here self-published book, An Unhurried Journey in the hall at the Davidson Memorial Centre. Marlene was accompanied by guitar player and singer Sandra Mae Reimer. As part of the one hour presentation, Sandra played and sang two songs selected by the book author.
The opening line “A thought into words” from the composition Songs without words by Linda Hiebert was ideal in setting the tone for the intimate gathering. I estimate about fifteen guests were in attendance to listen to Marlene paint a vivid portrait of her family memories growing up on a farm in southern Manitoba.
An intimate evening with author Marlene Plett (left) and musician Sandra Mae Reimer. /SEAN CONWAY
Marlene left the audience asking questions about what happened to the horses that fell into the pond in one of her readings from the book. She indicated for $25 the reader could purchase a copy of her memoir and discover the answer for themselves.
The monies collected from the sale of books isn’t sufficient to cover production costs. When the author was asked about the cost of self-publishing her response was “it’s cheaper than buying a car.”
Marlene Plett is taking the performance to the St. James-Assiniboia Library in Winnipeg on Sept. 15, 2016.
Sean Conway lives in Morris, Manitoba and contributes articles to the Southeast Journal, a community newspaper serving Rural Municipalities of Morris, Montcalm, Emerson-Franklin and the Town of Morris.
