Nicholas Donaldson
Emo businesses welcomed spring with their annual “Spring Fever Days” celebration last week.
Running Thursday to Saturday, the event drew crowds to Emo for sales, activities, fundraisers, raffles, food, and fun.
Local businesses were on display all weekend, with the Nestor Falls Marine boat show in the Emo Arena, the Tompkins Hardware boat show and solar display, and lawn and garden shows at both Degagne Equipment and Dave Goodman Automotive.
The book sale at the Emo Public Library, along with the “Crafts Galore” vendor show at the Emo Legion, also drew their share of visitors.
Those on hand had their choice of burgers and hotdogs barbecued outside of Rainy River Meats, or soup-and-sandwich lunches at the Emo Legion on Friday and Saturday.
The FFHS “Chem-Free” Grad Committee also offered hotdogs and a bake sale in conjunction with their car wash at Cloverleaf Grocery on Saturday.
The students raised about $1,850 in all.
Meanwhile, 18 runners participated in the Rejuvenate Fitness “Spring into Action” 5K run/walk Saturday morning.
Owners Lincoln Dunn and Frances Flook thanked the Northwestern Health Unit for helping organize the event, and noted the $210 raised from registration fees will go to the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Norlund Oil held a car show Saturday morning and displayed some of their Napoleon barbecues.
“It was another successful event,” said owner Paul Koomans.
“The weather co-operated, which always brings out a crowd,” he added.
Koomans said he always is very happy with “Spring Fever Days” and the chance it provides to showcase Emo businesses.
“This is a full-service community with something to offer for everybody,” he remarked.
Over at the Hair & Body Care Shoppe, the 20th-annual “Cuts for Cancer” head-shaving was held Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
The six participants were cheered on by a small crowd gathered on Front Street.
Together they raised a total of $8,947, which will go to Tamarack House–a home away from home for those undergoing cancer treatments in Thunder Bay.
Emo Feed Service also drew crowds with a farm animal petting zoo in front of the store, along with coffee and cookies for guests.
Co-owner John Sawatzky said he was very grateful for Abraham and Mark Gerber, along with Doug Pearson, for putting pens together and getting the animals out there.
He thought all three days were successful, especially when Mother Nature co-operated.
“We got a good mix of people, good crowds all weekend,” Sawatzky said.
“It’s nice to see everyone come together to support local businesses.”
As for the raffles and draws, Loretta LeBlanc was the inaugural winner of the local abattoir board’s “Catch the Ace” progressive raffle in support of agriculture education for youth.
She won $396 as her cut of the weekly prize but did not uncover the ace of spades, so the draw will continue on.
Winners of the $1,000 in gift certificates for Emo businesses were:
•Pam Westover ($500)–drawn at Visser Auto;
•Feitze Van Zwol ($250)–drawn at Freedom 55 Financial (Gary Foster); and
•Emily Brown ($250)–drawn at Kaemingh Fuels.
Tickets for the Emo Firemen’s “Big 5,” the Emo Fair truck raffle, and the Canada Day Cash Lottery also were being sold on Front Street over the three days, but they all will be drawn later this year.
