Sparta Community Newsletter

Sparta’s web site www.villageofsparta.com

The Newsletter

Newsletters will be available in the Village Market. If you have any news or announcements please let us know. It will be published in January, April, and September. Feedback is always welcomed. We can email it to anyone interested if you provide us with your email. Contact us at tcg@execulink.com. 

Village Wide Yard Sale

We are having a yard sale Saturday, May 23 throughout the village. Set up at your own place or in the parking lot at the community hall. We will post it on our website and our Facebook and Instagram sites. We will be selling lots of books from the community hall.

High Tea and Historical Fashion Show

This very popular event that helps raise money for our museums is happening on June 6 at the Sparta Church Museum. It runs from 2:00 to 4:00 and features fashions from many early periods. We are excited to welcome back Elizabeth Brandeau modelling 4 incredible outfits from as far back as the 1600s. Tickets are on sale now for $45. Call Sally Martyn for tickets at 519-775-2292.

Museums

Our museums are opening soon. The Forge and Anvil will be open 7 days a week starting May 20 and the Sparta Church Museum will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays beginning June 5. Hours of operation on these days is noon to 4:30 pm. The Forge houses our permanent display with early Sparta artifacts and the Church Museum will be exhibiting life in the 1940s with authentic clothing as well as many artifacts from the period. Our students start work May 13. Please come and visit our museums this summer.

Fun Fair

Our annual fun fair is returning this year on August 23 with several new events. Returning favourites include the very popular Ultimutts shows and our Union Firefighters serving lunch. Watch the web site for further details and Facebook postings. Meeting May 4 at 7:00 to plan. Come with ideas. We also need to borrow a sun shelter. Call Pam if you have one to loan. 

Skate Park

There are events planned to continue fundraising for the skate park. There will be a raffle for a Honda 59 dirtbike organized by AJR Concrete in partnership with Hully Gully. Turtle and Bird will be selling Sparta Community Skate Park merchandise such as shirts, stickSkateers and one of a kind handmade items at the Horton St. Famers’ Market. There is also a fishing lure fundraiser at Steelhead Food Co. in St. Thomas. Great idea for Father’s Day. Recently they received a $500 donation from the Poplar Hill Lions Club, Turtle and Bird donated $600 from their pottery workshop, and the Quaker kids got crafty and raised $100 for the Skate Park. If you want more information contact Matt Higgens at spartacommunityskatepark@gmail,com.

Baseball for Fun

Anyone of any age interested in playing baseball will meet at the Sparta Ball Diamond on Sundays from 1:00 to 4:00. Darryl Roberts is coordinating this fun time starting in July. If you are interested or have children that are interested please contact Darryl at maple65@hotmail.com or 519-521-8887

                                                                                 Scouting News

Scouts, Cubs and Beavers are winding down for this season and will start again in September. Call Pam Helmer (519-775-2613) for more information on ages and joining.

      Web Site & Social Media 

Francie Johnston has helped us set up a more interactive web site at villageofsparta.com with forms for renting and contracts as well as ads for all upcoming events and a calendar of all events in the village. It also shows when the community hall is already in use. Steven Thorne has also set up an email contact on the site (villageofsparta.ontario@gmail.com) and a Facebook and Instagram site at communityofsparta. Check them out.

Hall Rental

We have great spaces to rent for any gathering you are hosting. We have re-established our stage in the upper hall, have two certified kitchens, air conditioning and chair lifts and a fully accessible lower entrance and washrooms. See the end of the newsletter for how to book the hall and costs. PAL insurance is needed if alcohol is served. The Sparta Church Museum lower hall is also available for rent at the same rates as the community hall upper room. Rental agreements are on the village website.

Thank You

Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped remodel and renovate the lower kitchen that is now certified for use by the Health Unit. Several members of the Community Society helped as well as Mark, Carmen, Bonnie, Brendan, Ariana, Garth, Karen, and Bert. This is a great addition to the hall facilities, and we are very thankful to all who helped including the plumber and electrician.

Regular Events at the Community Hall

Sparta Stitchers meet every Tuesday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the hall to quilt, knit, crotchet, tat, smock, embroider, etc. Cost is $5.00 per session which is considered a donation and receives an income tax receipt. Come learn a new skill or just bring whatever you want to work on and have a good time visiting with your fellow stitchers. Call Sally Martyn (519-775-2292) for more information or just show up.

Scouts, Cubs, Beavers

Wednesday: 6:30 to 8:00 Beavers

Wednesday: 6:30 to 8:00 Cubs

Thursday: 6:30 to 8:00 and some Saturdays Scouts

Sparta Community Society

Please come and join us for our next meeting on Monday, September 15 at 7:00.

Community Society Executive

President: Pam Helmer (519-775-2613)

Vice President: Carly Higgins

Secretary: Yvonne Campbell

Treasurer: Ron Molyneux

Directors at Large: Yvonne Taylor, Louisa Zavitz

Hall Coordinator: Sally Martyn

The Sparta Community Hall is available for rent. We have a certified kitchen, are fully accessible and air conditioned. The cost schedule for upper hall is as follows: $50/hour, $150 for half day, $225 for full day and $300 if alcohol is served. Lower hall costs less. Repeat users get a discount. Call Sally Martyn at 519-775-2292 to make your reservation. Check out our web site for pricing, conditions, how to pay and a contract you can fill in and email.