SUBMITTED BY MARTIN MAZZA, VIRGIL.

Editor's note: The text has been revised. The original version had the wrong date for the Kinsmen's Classic Cars – Show & Shine.

Dear editor:

This letter is to all the residents of NOTL. 

As many of you already know, the Kinsmen sign was run over by an unidentified vehicle back on June 19. 

This was the second time the sign has had to be replaced in the last six months, with a cost of $1,000 for insurance deductible each time. 

That cost struck a chord with me and after talking with club president Bob Forbes, I turned to Facebook. A special thanks goes out to the Facebook group NOTL 4 ALL, whose members quickly shared the information. 

I posted photos and though we were not able to find out who ran over the sign, a donation drive happened, with the blessings of the Kinsmen Club.

I also put a donation jar in my shop in Virgil. In very short order, our community has raised just over $3,200 for the Kinsmen Club of NOTL and the replacement of its sign.

For those interested, a list of all donations can be found on the NOTL 4 ALL page on Facebook. 

A big shoutout to the Virgil Business Association, the Virgil Fire Department and Ravine Winery for donating $500 each, and to the NOTL Legion, Branch 124 for raising $233 for the cause. All extra money will be used to enhance the sign with better safety, lighting and landscaping improvements.

Donations are still welcomed by me, or directly to the Kinsmen Club at PO Box 222, Virgil, ON, L0S 1T0 (cheques or money order – please do not send cash by mail). Kinsmen Club president Bob Forbes can be reached at 905-360-0455.

Another great way of showing support while having a fabulous time doing so, would be coming out to the Kinsmen Club’s 21st annual Classic Cars – Show & Shine on Sunday, Aug. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  There is a $3 admission for spectators and kids under 12 are free.  First 200 cars will receive a plaque.

The Kinsmen were hoping that the new sign would be installed prior to the car show for everyone to see, but it looks like that might be too tight a timeline for the manufacturer/installers.

And with that, I would like to thank the members of the Kinsmen Club of NOTL for everything they do and have done for the last 49 years here in NOTL.  I would like to conclude by sending a huge thank you to all those people who have supported our effort by helping with the Kinsmen sign replacement.

Sincerely,

Martin Mazza

Virgil