The Amherst Island Women's Institute (AIWI) started a project within the past year in Amherst Island's community of 450 people of recycling used household batteries, within the past year, in Amherst Island’s community of 450 people. A vaeek competition was held, starting in February, with the 28 students at the local public school, to see who could collect the most used batteries. When the competition ended, 1,302 batteries had been collected by these students. Overall, about 181 kg (400le) of used batteries, including farm batteries used for electric fences, had been collected. Well done, Amherst Island Wl Members and students! Involved in Community Recently Russell Village Women's Institute took an opportunity to become part of the history of our Village of Russell. Russell Village Wl _ . the i The Horticultural Society of Russell with the help and know~how of Master Builder John Shawâ€"Rimmington, President of the Dry Stone Wall Association, and volunteers from the community are erecting a dry stone (no mortar) bridge in MacDougal Park, RussellThe bridge is being erected in the same spot as the original longâ€"gone cedar foot bridgeThis structure will be very historic as it will be one of ï¬ve in Canada and a one-ofâ€"its-kind in a public park in Canada. Amongst the volunteers is one of our own WI ladies, Diane Wade of the RVWI! The hottest week of the summer and Diane was out there learning, heaving the stone and working on the arch. Others of the RVWI took on lunch duties providing a fresh and delicious lunch. Besides being included in our own Tweedsmuir History albums, CBC was there to record the daily workings on-site. Pride in our community...pride in ourselves...showing the many ways not only to keep WI in 'the news’ but also to be a vibrant segment ofthe community. Photo: Jean Williams , Dmy Achtereekte, Cherry Beekers, Diane Wade and Rock Star" Dry Stone Wall President, John Shawâ€"Rimmington pose in front of the Russell Bridge Wild Rose WI Gets Involved! Wild Rose WI held two "Knit»ln†gatherings to encourage the com- munity to help us knit for our Canaa da Comforts project. Twenty people came, knitted or crocheted, enjoyed the fellowship and left asking when the next "Knit-In†would be. Four large boxes of assorted items await Fall shipping and the community continues to donate. For our second project, packages of fabric sufï¬cient for one quilt block were sold at one of the “Knitaln†gatherings. Judging was done at the local craft store, the public invited, and prizes awarded. The blocks have been made into a Breast Cancer quilt which will be raffled. We made certain to have our Wild Rose display on hand with invitations to our third project. Our third project is a free quilting course which began with the history of quilting. Now we are working through the basics: colours, fabric. cutting and piecing of simple blocks. We suggested the ï¬rst projectshould be small like a pot holder or pillow since the thought of a whole qurlt can be daunting to a beginner. Twelve ladies attend those sessrons which are of interest to them. The course will end with instruction for the more complex patterns and types of block. Lessons are every two weeks and where they overlap with our regular meeting participants are encouraged to attend the meeting. Memberships are welcomed but not pushed. One participant is 3 WI Member from the south who spends her summers in Cochrane.