Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Festival Players has generously offered to donate a percentage of ticket sales from their July 20th performance!

If you’re planning on attending this wonderful play, that would be a good night to go! 

And thanks again, Festival Players!
An Evening of Theatre for TaborFix

Wednesday, July 20 · 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Mount Tabor Playhouse
2179C County Road 17

Join us on Wed. July 20th at Mount Tabor Playhouse for an evening of theatre for TaborFix!
Festival Players of Prince Edward County will be donating a percentage of ticket sales from the Wed. July 20th evening performance of The Book of Esther by Leanna Brodie to the Mount Tabor Renovation Fund.

The Book of Esther - In the rural community of Baker’s Creek the Dalzell family struggle to keep their farm, family and faith intact.  To top it all off, their 15 year-old daughter Esther has just run away from home.  This heart-warming story, from the writer who brought us Schoolhouse, takes us on a young girl’s journey to find herself. 

Doors at 7:30 – Showtime at 8:00pm.
Come and enjoy this fantastic show and show your support for a truly wonderful cause!
Tickets on sale now!

Adults: $29.95 +HST
Seniors (65+):  $23.75 +HST
Students (21 and under with ID): $23.75 +HST

For tickets, please call 613-471-1991 / 1-888-584-1991 or buy online today at www.countytix.ca

For more info about TaborFix, please visit http://taborfix.blogspot.com/
For more info about Festival Players, plese visit http://www.festivalplayers.ca/

We hope to see you there!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

What a great show!


Photos courtesy of our friends at CountyLive!  http://www.countylive.ca/
 The "Musicians for Mt. Tabor Benefit" held at the Regent on Monday night raised $4000 towards renovations at Mt. Tabor Community Playhouse!  The evening rolled along smoothly, with one fabulous act followed by another.  Special thanks to all the performers who gave their time and talent to help.  We appreciate you all! 

Brian Colgate was the highest bidder and so went home with a framed 1980's "Stringband" poster, professionally framed by SideStreet Gallery and featuring Zeke Mazurek, fiddler and frequent performer at Mt. Tabor.  Zeke's wife, Danyne Kerr, donated it from Zeke's collection of memorabillia.  It was a wonderful way of including Zeke in the evening, as we know he would have been there.
And thanks Brian for your support!  We appreciate it!

Be sure to visit CountyLive at http://www.countylive.ca/ for full coverage! 

Basket Draw Raises $1295.00!

Barb Hobson was the lucky winner of the Mt. Tabor Basket Raffle that was drawn Monday night during the Musicians for Mt. Tabor Benefit at the Regent. 

The basket, valued at $470, contained:

Two Flex Passes for the 2011 Festival Players of Prince Edward County Season (http://festivalplayers.ca/), Dinner for Two at The Milford Bistro (http://milfordbistro.com/), 
Accommodation for Two at Jackson’s Fall Country Inn (http://www.jacksonsfalls.com/) and a bottle of Long Dog Winery Chardonnay (http://www.longdog.ca/)
 
Thanks to those local businesses for supporting the cause!
 
And special thanks to Lee Lewis, all our ticket sellers, The Marysburgh Mummers for allowing us to sell during their production of The Boy Friend, Hicks' Store in Milford, and everyone who bought a ticket!  Thank you!! 
 
Congratulations Barb!  Enjoy your basket of goodies!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Musicians for Mt. Tabor Benefit Show - Seventh Town

This Celtic/Folk trio brings acoustic guitar and fiddle to the stage to perform traditional and contemporary folk along with foot-tapping Celtic jigs and reels.  Shows feature ballads depicting the hardships of early Canadian settlers, haunting reels and airs, energetic jigs, sea shanties and familiar folk tunes.  SEVENTH TOWN's repertoire and arrangements are well-suited to a wide range of venues including concerts, festivals, fundraisers, coffeehouses, ceilis and historical events.  Their CD is a collection of music featuring traditional songs from early Canada, Celtic jigs, reels, and instrumentals.

Take a listen on their myspace site:  http://www.myspace.com/seventhtown

Seventh Town is:  Martin Smit, Meghan Balogh, and Trisha Elliott

What’s their connection to Mt. Tabor?  Martin & his daughter are both Marysburgh Mummers, a community theatre group that calls Mt. Tabor home.  Mary, his daughter, on stage and Martin, on keyboards in the ‘orchestra’.  Seventh Town has also played Milford Fair, another community event that would cease to exist if Mt. Tabor and the surrounding Fair Grounds were not there.

Seventh Town is one of many wonderful acts that you’ll see at the “Musicians for Mt. Tabor Benefit Show” on Monday, June 13th at The Regent Theatre!  Tickets on sale now at Scott’s Store (Picton), Hicks’ Store (Milford), Wight’s Greenhouse (Wellington), and QAC (Belleville).  This benefit show is a major fundraiser for the TaborFix Renovation Fund.  Show your support and enjoy a great night of fabulous music!


Performing at Milford Fair


Monday, May 9, 2011

Basket Draw - Tickets on sale now!

Thanks to some very generous community folk, we have assembled a pretty great basket of goodies for our basket draw!
 
The basket value is $470.00!  Astounding! 
 
A very special thanks to the following local businesses for donating items for the basket: 
 
Two Flex Passes for the 2011 Festival Players of Prince Edward County Season
 
Dinner for Two at The Milford Bistro
 
Accommodation for Two at Jackson’s Fall Country Inn
 
A bottle of Long Dog Winery Chardonnay! 
 
 
Tickets are now on sale, $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 and are available at Hicks’ Store (Milford) and from various members of the TaborFix committee.  Buying tickets is a pretty easy, fast, and economical way of supporting Mt. Tabor.  And if you win, all the better!  The draw will take place June 13th, at the Musicians for Mt. Tabor Benefit Concert at The Regent. 
 
If you'd like to help us sell some tickets, please contact Lee Lewis: (info@jacksonsfalls.com).  We'd appreciate the help! 
 

Monday, May 2, 2011

TaborFix Update - May 2, 2011

TaborFix Update

Auction
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Leon McConnell and his team, the auction raised almost $6000!  The crowd seemed to really enjoy themselves and several bidding wars had the audience cheering.  Auctioneer John Rorabeck, along with his side-kick Leon, kept the evening moving and certainly added to the overall enjoyment of the event.  Overheard in the audience, “This is just like a play!”  Thanks to the community for donating items, as well as coming out and buying! 

Musicians for Mt. Tabor
The line-up of performers is set and tickets are now on sale for this exciting benefit show!  We would have loved to perform in Mt. Tabor, but as this is a fundraiser, we wanted a bigger seating capacity.  Thanks to the generosity of the newly renovated Regent Theatre, the benefit show will take place there.  Be sure to mark Monday, June 13th on your calendar and get your tickets early!  Tickets are $20, with all proceeds going into the TaborFix fund.  Seating is not assigned, so note that the doors will open at 7:00, and the curtain will rise at 7:30.  You can buy your tickets at Hicks’ Store (Milford), Scott’s Store (Picton), Wight’s Greenhouse (Wellington), and Quinte Arts Council (Belleville).  Musicians for Mt. Tabor wouldn’t happen without the never-ending dedication of local performers, who are constantly asked to perform at fundraisers.  Since every one of these musicians has performed on the Mt. Tabor stage, and therefore understand just how precious Mt. Tabor is as a performance space, they were only too happy to agree to come out and perform a couple of songs.  Performers include The Frere Brothers with Jake deVries, Grampa’s Goodtime Gang, Bill Ostrander, Jerry Foster, Lenni Stewart, Seventh Town, Suzanne Pasternak, Jennifer Noxon, Amy Sedore, Penny & John Kitchen, and Loraine Sine.  The evening will be hosted by Janet Kellough and Rick Zimmerman.  Hope to see you there!

Basket Draw
Tickets are now on sale for our basket draw, valued at $470.00!  Tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 and are available at Hicks’ Store and from various members of the TaborFix committee.  The draw will take place at the end of intermission at Musicians for Mt. Tabor.  A very special thanks to the following local businesses for donating items for the basket:  Two Flex Passes for the 2011 Festival Players of Prince Edward County Season, Dinner for Two at The Milford Bistro, Accommodation for Two at Jackson’s Fall Country Inn, and a bottle of Long Dog Chardonnay! 

Cash Donations
Cash donations have come in to our treasurer, for which we are very grateful.  Thank you to those that have made donations.  If you wish to make a donation to TaborFix and would like a tax receipt,
make the cheque out to The County of Prince Edward.  If you don’t require a tax receipt, simply make the cheque out to TaborFix.   Either way, cheques can be mailed to:  TaborFix, c/o Diane Underhill, Treasurer, 104 Goodman Crescent, RR#2 Milford, ON, K0K 2P0.

County Council 2011Budget
County Council has set their 2011 budget and has set aside $22,000 to complete some of the upgrades that are required to Mt. Tabor.  This money will be used on such things as the furnace room improvements, ceiling, and wall work.  The money raised by TaborFix endeavors, will primarily be used to fix the front steps and assist with remaining fire code upgrades.  Barb Proctor, Ward 9 Councillor states, “The front doors have already been improved to open outwards and a fire alarm system has now been installed as a result of the redirection of 2010 dollars that had been set aside by RPC for work to the parking lot.  Since the front steps are not a fire code requirement, RPC plans to allocate the required $12,000 in the 2012 budget.  Tabor Fix dollars raised will enable the front steps to be completed this year to prevent falls that could occur as a result of the reorientation of the front doors.  Other issues in the theatre such as railings and fire code drapery and seats, floor lighting and minor improvements must be addressed.  So, continue to marvel at the talent we enjoy while in the safe environment of Mt. Tabor.”    

Thanks to the Community
A special thanks goes out to the community at large, who support Mt. Tabor and the fundraising efforts of TaborFix.  The reality is that without these necessary improvements, Mt. Tabor would no longer be usable.  One has to wonder that if it’s no longer usable, why would the County keep it?  Thankfully, the Council’s allocation of $22,000 seems to represent a support of the building and the community events that happen in and around it.  Thanks to the community, including County Council, we won’t need to face that, which means we can continue to enjoy Milord Fair, the ball diamond, Milford Market, theatre productions, music performances, winter carnival events, and the Easter egg hunt, to name a few.  Your support of upcoming TaborFix events is still very much needed, but we feel well on our way to seeing the renovations completed in a timely manner.  

And remember, you can find us on Facebook (Tabor Fix).

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Tickets on sale NOW!

TaborFix!
Benefit Concert

Monday, June 13th
at The Regent Theatre
224 Main Street, Picton

7:30pm curtain
(doors open at 7:00pm)

Tickets:  $20.00
(General Admission)

Available at:
Hicks’ Store (Milford), Scott’s Store (Picton), Wight’s Greenhouse (Wellington),
and Quinte Arts Council (Belleville)

Featuring performances by:
The Frere Brothers with Jake deVries
Grampa’s Goodtime Gang
Bill Ostrander
Jerry Foster
Lenni Stewart
Seventh Town
Suzanne Pasternak
Jennifer Noxon
Amy Sedore
Penny & John Kitchen
Loraine Sine. 
Hosted by Janet Kellough and Rick Zimmerman. 

Monday, April 18, 2011

Auction a big success!

They came, they saw, and boy did they bid! 

What a great auction on Saturday!

The TaborFix Committee is happy to announce that the auction raised $5,267.00!

A very big thank you to John Rorabeck (Auctioner) and Leon McConnell (Main Auction Organizer and Onstage Side-Kick)!

Thanks to our amazing community for donating the incredible items and then coming out and bidding on things!  The crowd was certainly entertained with several bidding wars!  Thanks to the volunteers who made the event happen.  Thanks to Cherry Valley Lions Club for weathering the storm and putting on the BBQ.

What a huge success and perhaps even more importantly, a fun community event!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

TaborFix Auction Items

NEW Updated Auction Item List! 
Auction Date:  April 16th

Antique Sofa Table
Three Round Tables
Variety of Chairs
Two Sets of Bar Stools
Assorted Quality China
Many Quality Pictures
Dinner for Eight Voucher from Suzanne Pasternak and Friends
Decorative Lighting Fixture
Outstanding Artworks from Local Artists
Laser Printer
Antique Oval Parlour Table
Wicker Love Seat
Portable TV Antenna
Baked Goods
Lawn Chairs
Winter Bug Screen for Pick Up Truck (new)
Portable Parts Washer (new)
Heated Meat Tray
Sewing Basket
Child's Keyboard
Folding Fitness System
Spice Rack - 20 full jars (new)
Pasta Jars with Rack (new)
10 piece Stainless Steel Knife Set (new)
Stainless Steel Cooker (new)
Blender
Espresso Maker
Cool Mist Humidifier
Hand Crafted Jewel Box (new)
Large Mirror, framed
Bird Feeder (new)
Small Collectors Clock
Two Soup Tureens
Christmas Lamp Scene Box
Pinboard Shadow Box
Mr. Peanut Jar
Kitchen Christmas Pitcher
3 Books on the Royals
Book on Canada
Two Cast Lawn Ornaments
Honey Pie Hives and Herbals Gift Basket
DVD Collection of Mummer Plays
Cream and Sugar Set
Antique Commode Chair
Pine Wall Cabinet
Golf Bag Cart
AM/FM Radio/Player
9x12" Dhurrie Carpet
Antique Cradle
Robert Bateman Numbered Print
New set of Binoculars
Numbered Vince Carter Print with Sports Card
Carl Breners Numbered 994 Print
Royal Doulton 'Goody Two Shoes'
Child's Rocking Chair
Wooden Desk made of ash 40x30
Single Victorian Bed Refinished
Church Pew from Mt. Tabor
Salt and Pepper Collection
Woman's Raleigh Bicycle 10 speed
Wicker Chair in Excellent Condition
Fish Aquarium with Cabinet
Two Porcelain Dolls
Quilted Coverlet with Pillow
Old Carpenter's Box
New GPS Navigation System
New Home Weather System
Coffee Urn
Large Collection of New Kitchen Items
New Child Safety Gate
Antique Rocking Chair Unfinished
Picture Frames
and more!

More donations are welcome....but what we really need is you there bidding!
Cherry Valley Lions Club will be there serving refreshments!

To donate, please call Leon @ 613-476-6606

Friday, March 11, 2011

Giovanna Romano donates proceeds of music show to TaborFix!

IIUVA designs, in collaboration with Riviera Records, presents
Tony Colombo and Pino Gioia
Direct from Italy on their Canadian Tour!

Friday, April 8
Italo-Canadian Club (Kingston)
$50 per person
Doors open 5:30, dinner 7:00

OR

Sunday, April 10
Le Parc Conference & Banquet Centre (Concord)
$60 per person
Doors open 3:30, dinner 5:00pm

Dinner Show.  Cash Bar.  Door Prizes.

Tickets available after March 14
Call (613) 813-2729
Online:  www.countytix.ca (this weekend)
Partial proceeds to support TaborFix:  http://taborfix.blogspot.com/


Sunday, February 20, 2011

COME ONE! - COME ALL!
TO THE MILFORD TOWN HALL
for a
EUCHRE
P A R T Y
Tuesday, March 22
1:00pm to 3:30pm
Great Prizes and Refreshments
Admission - $10 each
 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Press Release from George Underhill, TaborFix Committee


TaborFix

Mount Tabor in Milford was designated a historical building in 1985.  Originally built as a Wesleyan Methodist Church on a high point of land overlooking Milford between 1865 and 1867, it was closed in in 1967 and subsequently sold to the Township of South Marysburgh for a dollar to be used for “community purposes”.

It has served the community well, being utilized by performing arts groups like the Marysburgh Mummers and the Festival Players, the Milford Fair, numerous musical performances, drama and arts camps, 4-H Club, Brownies and Cubs, The Milford Market, and others.
           
In 2010, a comprehensive inspection was completed on Mount Tabor and some $90,000 of fire prevention remediation measures were identified. Since then, some of the most pressing flaws have been  fixed, including an electronic fire alarm system, the installation of front doors that swing outwards with crash bars, and a re-organization of the seating to comply with fire codes.
           
Much remains to be done if Mount Tabor is to continue its contribution to the culture and economy of the County. The Marysburgh Mummers have identified several items, such as fire retardant curtains  and seating, lighting and other items which they have budgeted to address. There remains some $25,000 of remediation to be completed.  TaborFix, a group of volunteers chaired by Doug Parker, has been formed to help save this historic and valuable community asset.
           
In the short term, fund raising activities are planned including an auction, a card party, special concerts at Jackson’s Falls, with others in development. 

To donate quality items for our auction call either Leon McConnel at 476-6606, Doug Parker at 476-1543 or George Underhill at 476-5940 and TaborFix will arrange a pick up.

Those with an abiding concern for our historical building heritage may wish to donate money to the cause, and TaborFix will happily accept funds, small amounts or large. We’ve lost too many historical buildings.

If you wish a tax receipt make the cheque out to The County of Prince Edward.

If you don’t require a tax receipt, simply make the cheque out to TaborFix.

Mail all donations to: 
TaborFix, c/o Diane Underhill, Treasurer
104 Goodman Crescent, RR#2 Milford, ON   K0K 2P0.

Of course, sweat equity in the form of volunteering to help is welcome too.

Let’s save this historical and valuable building!
           
BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR
HELP SAVE MOUNT TABOR.

How can I make a donation?

If you require a tax receipt, make the cheque out to The County of Prince Edward.

If you do not require a tax receipt, make the cheque out to TaborFix.

Cheques are mailed to: 

TaborFix
c/o Diane Underhill, Treasurer
104 Goodman Crescent
RR#2 Milford, ON  
K0K 2P0

Will you write a letter of support?

What does Mt. Tabor mean to you? 
Why is it an important cultural and heritage space for The County? 

Please email letters of support to Lori:  learnin4@bellnet.ca            
                              
With your permission, these letters might be posted on this blog to help spread the word and show support for this important heritage and cultural space.

Monday, February 14, 2011

TaborFix Fundraising AUCTION!
Donations Needed!


Auction Date:  April 16th @ Mt. Tabor
(More info to follow!)

We need donations of quality items to auction—and we’ll pick them up! (between April 1 - 11)
To donate, call:  Leon McConnell (476-6606)
Doug Parker (476-1543) or Bruce Dowdell (476-8891).

Mount Tabor History

PHOTO:  Mount Tabor, circa 1900
Old photo of Mount TaborMount Tabor Playhouse sits on a height of land overlooking the village of Milford.  The building, a former United Church, consists of the theatre that seats 140 people and Bredin Hall, built in 1997.

The hall contains a costume room, snack bar and washrooms.  This replaced the original Sunday Schoolroom.


The land was bought to build Mount Tabor Church in 1833 by trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  A second church, Wesleyan Methodist, and eventually United, was erected between 1865 and 1867.  Mount Tabor Church remained vibrant and served Milford and the community for 100 years.

This church was built mostly by the brains, blood and muscle of one man, Doctor Hautry Bredin. He spent much of his own money on this ‘Temple to the Lord’ which was dedicated in 1867 by Rev. James Thompson. On June 25, 1967, Rev. J. A. Davidson preached at the centennial service which was also the last one. His topic was, “Has the Church had it?”  South Marysburgh Township bought the church for one dollar in 1968.
Eighteen years were to pass before it became a theatre and home for The Marysburgh Mummers and used by various other performers, both local and international.

The most notable feature is the steeple which soars high above the village.  In order to paint it, Dr. Bredin was slung up with pulleys, since no others wished to climb to such a lofty and dangerous place. With this building’s conversion to a theatre, numerous renovations by volunteers have occurred while acknowledging its church origins. Shavings and a tool from the original construction were found during the building of the stage balcony.

Rev. Davidson said, during the last sermon, that “...greater things will be done...” Certainly, the building has taken a different tack from that of weekly worship.
After 18 years of sitting empty, several concerned citizens joined together to discuss possible ways to avoid having the beautiful landmark fall into disrepair.  They discussed different possibilities, but soon discovered they all had a love of theatre.  They decided to put on a play!  In 1985, they produced “Look Who’s Laughing”.  Since that time, The Marysburgh Mummers have officially become a recreation group under The County of Prince Edward Parks and Recreation.  Mt. Tabor has become a well-loved and appreciated performance space.

Other groups and clubs including Brownies, Scouts, Cubs, Ventures, 4-H, performing artists, Milford Fair, and even a wedding have all contributed to this historic site and in doing so, have turned the focus of worship in the older days into the newer focus of bringing people together for skill building and entertainment through performance opportunities.

TaborFix

A group of concerned community members have joined together to create TaborFix, a committee determined to keep Mt. Tabor open and viable.  Members include representatives from:  Miford Fair Board, South Marysburgh/Athol School Parent Group, South Bay United Church, The Marysburgh Mummers, local businesses (Black River Cheese Factory, Jackson's Falls B&B, Milford B&B, etc.), South Marysburgh Rec Committee, as well as other concerned individuals. 

Mt. Tabor, and the surrounding fairgrounds, are used by many groups over the course of a year.  The closure of Mt. Tabor would have a profound effect on many people and groups who have been using the space for years.  Certainly, Mt. Tabor is an important part of Milford, and plays a vital role in South Marysburgh culture and recreation.  It is a Heritage building that is used, and enjoyed, by people from all across The County. 

Watch for upcoming posts and events!

Moving Seats!

Mt. Tabor and the Fire Code - What are the issues?

In April 2010, the County's Fire Prevention officer, along with the building inspector, conducted an inspection of Mount Tabor Community Playhouse and Bredin Hall.  This was part of a county-wide inspection of private and County owned public buildings.  After the initial inspection, a fire prevention engineer was hired and he identified 20 deficiencies in Mount Tabor and Bredin Hall.  The most pressing were: (1) a monitored fire alarm system, (2) Fire doors separating Bredin Hall and the theatre, (3) the front doors had to swing out and be equipped with crash bars, (4) the rows of seats had to be moved to meet the minimum space between rows, (5) the Mummers' storage of props, costumes etc in the balcony and bell tower had to be removed.  Until these items had been fixed, any performance in the theatre required a "fire watch" which entailed hiring three firefighters for each performance. 

The Recreation, Parks & Culture Department diverted money that had been allotted to Mount Tabor in the 2010 budget and supplemented with donations from the Milford Fair Board and the Mummers, took care of the first three items.  The Mummers looked after items 4 and 5.  The fire watch has now been cancelled, which means that there does not have to be firemen present for each performance.  However, there are still fifteen items to be completed.  The Mummers are looking after some of them such as new stage curtains made of flame retardant material.

There are three large items that still have to be completed.  In Bredin Hall, the ceiling has to be covered with fire retardant dry wall as well as the crawl space that houses the furnace.  The front steps have to be rebuilt to accommodate the doors opening out.  The remaining items are relatively small but will still have to be completed by this fall.

TaborFix, a group of concerned community representatives, are raising the funds to make sure the front steps are renovated and assist in some of the other upgrades.

The Recreation, Parks, and Culture Department has asked that County Council allot funds in the new budget to address and complete the needed renovations.  Their decision remains to be seen, but TaborFix is moving forward in raising money.