Royal Botanical Gardens is seeking proposals from interested parties to manage and operate all food and beverage service operations. The Gardens food and beverage scope includes its restaurant and catering operations at RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, Ontario plus two teahouses located in nearby Hendrie Park and Rock Garden, and outdoor special events. To view the opportunity notice or download the RFP, please go to www.MERX.com and fi nd Royal Botanical Gardens listed in the Food category. Food service TAP INTO YOUR INNER CELTIC! featuring Enter the Haggis, Highland Dancers, Pipebands, Liam McGlashon & more! Friday, October 29 - 8 p.m. Hamilton Convention Centre Tickets available at the Copps Coliseum Box Offi ce Ticketmaster.ca or call 905-527-7666 w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , O ct ob er 1 5, 2 01 0 3 2 after falling off the wharf and whose family is believed not to have buried him following his funeral, but rather stowed his body in an upper room of their home a stones throw from the lake. According to Belcher, there is a piano stool in an upper level room that goes with the house. In fact, it was once loaned out and the commotion on the upper level was such that calm only returned upon the return of that stool, relates Belcher. Then there are the images of ghost hors- es in the one-time stables that went up in a blaze one night and the stable keeper lost his life while trying to bring the horses to safety. If ghostly sightings in St. Judes belfry, dont intrigue ghost walkers, then the nine different ghosts claimed to frequent Erchless Estate, may including that of the late lady of the house, Rebecca Chisholm. Belcher said she was once leading a ghost tour (shes done so for about a decade now) and was waiting as she believed ghost walkers had stopped to take a photo with flash one night by Erchless. That was until she realized the walkers didnt have a camera and that the flash had come from inside the home, which was locked and closed. This past summer, Belcher said she took a photo of her 10-year-old granddaughter while working in the Thomas farmhouse, and the photo depicts what she describes as an orb of light in the fireplace. There was no light there, but Belcher said she has learned ghostly presences often can be seen on film in the form of light. Another friends teen, who didnt believe in ghosts, was surprised to hear from the security company that monitors Erchless that nothing had happened there one night after she found many items in the house had been moved and rearranged overnight. Robert Murray ought to know. His former original farmhouse sits just down the lane from Erchless, where it has been preserved in Lakeside Park after the Oakville Historical Society rescued it from the wreckers ball back in the 1950s. While historical tours of Oakvilles down- town and numerous heritage districts have been taking place for some time, ghost walks have become quite popular. This year, ghost walks run Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 and 8:30 p.m. through Oct. 28. A 6 p.m. walk is added on Saturday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 23, as well as on Tuesday, Oct. 26 and Thursday, Oct. 28. Tuesday walks at 7 and 8:30 p.m. will be held on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26.Cost is $12 per adult, $6 per child. Participants meet at the Oakville Historical Office at 110 King St. Call 905-844-2695 for reservations. Ghost walks popular Continued from page 31 Calling all writers to the cafMoonshine Cafs calling all bards, poets and raconteurs to its Literary Cafvent on Sunday, Oct. 17. Writers will be able to recite their short stories, poems, epics or songs at the event, formerly called Poetry Caf The first hour of the event will be a reading of poems written by youths. That will be followed by the featured poet, Keith Garebian and short story writer Ernie Enola, who will present excerpts of their own collections. The second hour will be open mic. People should sign up early to read. The event runs noon to 2 p.m. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted to help pay for future events. For information, visit www.oakvillepo- etry.org. Chuckles for Charity The fourth annual Premier Charity Comic Classic (Chuckles for Charity) is returning to the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts Friday, Oct. 29. Featured will be comic Steve Patterson, the host of CBC Radio Ones The Debaters and who has appeared on television specials of Just For Laughs. The event will support four chari- ties: Community Living Oakville, Childrens Aid Foundation of Halton, Kerr Street Community Services and The Goddard Group Foundation. Tickets cost $75. A reception starts at 6:30 p.m. with hors doeuvres and two drinks in the foyer, followed by the show on the main stage at 7: 30 p.m. There will also be a live auction. Tickets are limited. Contact Petrina Nesbitt at 905-845-2477.