ND Times Issue 10 2024 May 15

When giving is the gift received

by Ann Brady

This year’s 100 Women Who Care North Dundas event topped the 200 participants mark – and then some! On Thursday, May 8 the Joel Steel Arena hall was packed with beautiful, talkative, jubilant women of all ages, sizes, styles and callings. In the background, several wonderful guys from the 100 Men Who Care North Dundas group collected pledges, handed out lanyards and badges, and ensured enough chairs were set out for everyone.

What captured my heart were two guests who stood out and filled me with hope for a better future: local graphic designer Susan Mariner and her young daughter. What a wonderful lesson Susan has taught her daughter, in a time when society descends into a gimmegimme-it’s-all-about-me

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stance that does our world no good. That dear little girl beamed with pride, too – for her mom and for the old lady telling her how wonderful it was to see a mom and daughter there. Next year, let’s hope more moms bring along their daughters to witness the power of what women can do when we put our hearts and dollars together.

The 100 Who Care movement is simple, but has far-reaching impacts on the communities in which it is organized. Renee Moore, executive director of Naomi’s Family Resource Centre, made an important point when she said that one funder can start something big and wonderful for a recipient organization because it plants little seeds of inspiring others to give. She reported on how those seeds have benefitted Naomi’s

over the past year, starting with being the recipient of last year’s 100 Women Who Care purse that led to a new roof, and then more funders helping with two new bathrooms, fresh paint and new flooring. In a place where support workers and people fleeing abusive relationships are stretched to the very limits of what the human spirit can witness and endure, such everyday renovations take on grand proportions. The comfort of a bath, of cheerful paint on the walls, of warmth and security during a rainfall, all encourage hope in a better future.

The next 100 Women Who Care North Dundas event will take place in May 2025 and I can hardly wait! If you think you can’t afford to participate in this absolutely beautiful project, I am here to tell you that you can - no matter what your financial

circumstances. Every Friday night - before your weekend launches - place a toonie in a jar and put it away until the next Friday evening, when you feed it another toonie. Just in time for next year’s 100 Women Who Care event, you will have, without any stress to your home budget, saved $104! That’s $100 for the cause and a little treat for yourself at the local donut shop. And when you donate your fifty toonies to the cause, and hear the stories of the need in our community and the organizations that meet so many of those needs, you will feel like the richest woman on earth because you are part of it all. Ladies, is there a better lesson you could teach your daughters and granddaughters?

The 100 Women Who Care North Dundas crowd at the Joel Steel Community Centre on May 8. Photo by MP Eric Duncan.

ND Business Expo a success once again

Rainy Hike for Hospice raises $11,000

The fundraising event “Hike for Hospice”, organized by Dundas County Hospice, raised an astounding $11,000 on May 5 despite rainy weather.

You’ve Been Gnomed!

Do you know what a donsy is? You are about to find out! We are excited to announce an e-GNOME-ous FUNdraiser for the new Dundas Manor - coming to a front lawn near you!

Many people from North Dundas and beyond flocked to the Joel Steele Community Centre and the Sam Ault Arena on May 4 for another very successful North Dundas Business Expo. The Expo is an annual event in which local businesses come together in one place to remind the community of all the special things they have to offer. There were demonstrations, samples, and dare we say thousands of business cards handed out. A truly heartwarming show of local strength and commerce, and community.

“We had about 40 hikers,” reports Dundas County Hospice Executive Director, Lisa Casselman. “We just want to thank everyone that came out to support our hike. The weather was absolutely miserable but the spirit of the community was amazing! It was one of the worst weather days we've had in the history of our hikes, but it was also one of the more successful hikes we've had. Thank you to the community of Iroquois for being such hospitable hosts. Thank you to the Iroquois-Matilda Lions, the Knights of Columbus of both South Mountain and Morrisburg and to our own volunteers for helping out. We are reminded once again of the amazing support we always get from the communities we live in.”

Cindy Morgan, a member of the Dundas County Hospice Fundraising Committee, reiterated: “The weather was terrible but the spirit was wonderful!”

Habitat for Humanity breaks ground on another affordable home build project

The soil was turned yesterday on the latest Habitat for Humanity Cornwall & The Counties affordable home build project. In a few short months, a new Partner Family will purchase this new, affordable home in Ingleside with Habitat for Humanity acting as both the builder and the bank.

This marks the 21st local, affordable home built by the organization and the second in South Stormont. Of note, this is also the third home under construction in 2024. Habitat Cornwall had hoped to build a second semi-detached. However, with only one Partner Family identified and challenging, external logistics, the

decision was made to build a single-family home in Ingleside.

As Judith Wilcox of the Robert Campeau Family Foundation remarked, “Two affordable homes are better than one, but one is better than none!”

Well wishes and congratulations were shared with the families from a variety of attendees including government representatives and community supporters.

The Jimenez Family, Fiona and Jesus, along with their children, Lidija, Joaquim, Ameelija and Emmanuel will purchase this home at fair market value with an interest-free, geared to income mortgage. They

will also demonstrate their partnership and commitment to Habitat for Humanity by dedicating 500 hours of volunteer service which will include a Home Owners Education component and fundraising for the build.

As rental and housing prices continue to rise across the country, working with key community stakeholders to offer the opportunity for affordable home ownership is more important than ever.

Habitat Cornwall Board Chair, Hank Blasiak shared, “We appreciate the support of the community, St. Lawrence College, the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario, Architect 49 and our Build Committees.

This project benefits a local family and strengthens or community. We need your support. Please know, that funds raised here stay here to offset build costs and promote affordability. For any businesses, community groups or individuals wanting to learn more about

It's called Rehome-a-Gnome and we want everyone to get involved and have a little fun. We have a donsy (that's a big group!) of gnomes that want to visit a front lawn near you. They will stay for a couple of days and then move on to the next house.

Just ask South Dundas Mayor Jason Broad and his wife Shelley. They were the first to be ‘Gnomed’ and they are thrilled. “We need the new Dundas Manor," says Mayor Broad. "Shelley and I are happy to support this unique fundraiser and I already know where the gnomes are going next!"

North Dundas Mayor Tony Fraser agrees. He and his wife Amy have also been ‘Gnomed’. "This is a great idea and we are happy to help raise funds for the new Manor," says Mayor Fraser. "Amy and I hope there will be lots of support to host the gnomes in North Dundas. We're looking forward to seeing the gnomes travel through the community!"

All you have to do is visit bit.ly/Rehome-a-Gnome, select #2 and make a donation. Tell us where you want the gnomes to visit (in the message box) – perhaps family, friends, neighbours or even your own house! The recipient will then have a chance to choose the next house and make a donation if they wish.

You can also select #1 at bit.ly/Rehome-a-Gnome and make a $10 donation for No-Gnome Insurance so the gnomes don't end up on your lawn!

Visit www.wdmhfoundation.ca to download a gnome order form (look for the gnomes on the front page) or call Cindy at 343.572.6345.

“This one is a little crazy, but we’re going to have a lot of fun,” sums up Campaign Assistant Cindy Ault Peters. “Our gnomes are very excited about taking a tour of our local communities!”

For more details about the Dundas Manor campaign, please visit www.dundasmanordream.ca or contact the WDMH Foundation team at 613-774-2422 ext. 6169.

affordable housing opportunities with Habitat for Humanity and how they can help, they are encouraged to reach out to Joanne Mohamed at 613-938-0413 ext 204, or by email at joanne@ habitatcornwall.org. Readers can also visit the ReStore at 1400 Vincent Massey

Drive, Cornwall or Habitat Cornwall’s website at www. habitatcornwall.org.

Erin Kapcala of the Winchester District Memorial Hospital, and Nanda Wubs Huizenga of the North Dundas Times, pose with Dunwin – the CommunityHosted Events Mascot for the WDMH Foundation.

The Jimenez Family with Habitat for Humanity representatives and local government representatives break ground on the latest affordable home build project.

North Dundas Mayor Tony Fraser and his wife Amy

A dog park, an argument, and speed photo radar

by Brandon Mayer

May 9 Council meeting nothing short of dramatic

The regularly scheduled monthly meeting of North Dundas Council on May 9 was heavy on business, with an agenda package of over 300 pages. The meeting opened with a presentation from Debbie Ziegler and Annie Carrier-Gagnon, who pitched the benefits of having a dog park locally. The pair are among 10 committee members from a group called North Dundas Community Dog Park, which is pushing for a dog park to be built in Chesterville.

While the proposal was being discussed, a member of the audience called out:

“How much is it going to cost the taxpayers?” Mayor Tony Fraser responded swiftly and firmly, saying:

“Excuse me, that’s the only time, and this is the last time. Any outbursts, and you will be asked to leave. We don’t support that. We do not sup-

port that at all. Those questions will be answered, but we do not accept barking from the audience, or people speaking out of turn, this is not that type of meeting. This is a regular meeting of Council, you are aware of that and if you do it one more time you will have to leave the building!” The Mayor then firmly asked the audience member twice “Understood?” which was answered with an acknowledgement.

The discussion quickly got back on track, with members of Council expressing their support for the idea of a dog park. Councillor Gary Annable remarked: “Nobody loves a dog more than I do!” Mayor Fraser addressed the question about costs later in the meeting, stating that there would likely be a cost of about $35,000 to fence the property, with fundraising and donations possible. Once Township staff provide more detailed information to Council, a final decision will be made. If the project proceeds, it will likely move ahead “well into 2025”.

Council moved quickly through routine business items related to planning matters and internal policies, and also had a discussion about potentially changing the way user fees work for the Township’s outdoor recreational spaces such as baseball diamonds and soccer fields.

Later in the meeting, a resident – whom Mayor Fraser identified only as “Gary”, asked “can we speak about gravel roads?” The Mayor responded swiftly once again. “Everyone can sit and stay for another 10 minutes and we can have a discussion after,” said Mayor Fraser. He continued to be firm with the resident, asking “Gary, do you ever stop to let someone finish a sentence?” When the answer came back as “no”, the Mayor replied: “No, well then there’s no sense in talking to you.” The Mayor and the gentleman named Gary exchanged heated words, with the Mayor insisting that the discussion would take place after the meeting.

Op-ed Councillor Lennox is right: Leave the fees out of minor sports

by Brandon Mayer

In the May 9 Council meeting, one motion on the table was a suggestion to add hourly usage fees for local ball diamonds and soccer fields, including for organizations that run minor sports. Councillor John Lennox spoke out against this. He argued that soccer in particular needs to remain a cheap organized sports option for families of all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Councillor Matthew Uhrig had a similar opinion, pointing out that the grass is going to grow on these land parcels and needs to be mowed, user fees or not. It’s worth pointing out

that some groups such as adult sports groups already pay user fees for the fields. I happen to sit on the executive board of the local soccer club that runs both adult and minor soccer throughout the spring and summer here in North Dundas, and I must say that we do it for a very affordable price. It really is a sport that almost any family can afford to sign their child up for, which reflects in the significant enrollment in soccer every year locally.

I posit that Councillor Lennox is absolutely right. Leave the extra fees out of minor sports, and let the kids play with as little financial impact to their families as possible. Frankly, at the low rates suggested

Gary – who was shouting – pointed out that multiple residents with concerns about roads showed up to speak about the issue, and so he questioned why as taxpayers they could not address their Council. Mayor Fraser stated once again that the conversation would take place after the meeting, to which Gary replied “you won’t”, and the Mayor got the final word in, calmly saying “I will”.

Closer to the end of the meeting, there was another interruption, with Mayor Fraser repeating his firm stance, saying: “Gary can you just hold your tongue for about 2 more minutes, and we’ll be right there, okay? Just try it.”

Council spent a few minutes discussing Councillor John Lennox’s proposal from the previous meeting regarding Automated Speed Enforcement cameras. Councillor Lennox pointed out that the average speed on a particularly troublesome stretch of Main Street in Winchester is 72 km/h

despite the 50 km/h zone. He strongly argued for a speed camera to be active during set hours when children are walking to school. “This is a community safety zone, kids are walking, if you speed, you’re getting a ticket,” he said. Counties Council is in charge of streets that double as county roads, including Main Street and St. Lawrence Street in Winchester, and the upper tier Council previously shied away from Automated Speed Enforcement. Local Council agreed to put the issue forward once again to Counties Council for reconsideration.

When the meeting adjournment motion was introduced, the resident named Gary from earlier shouted “no!” The Mayor proceeded with reading the motion as Gary shouted things such as “you’re not going to let us be heard!” Council members unanimously voted to adjourn the meeting amidst the shouting. Councillor Lennox turned off the Mayor’s microphone, likely as a gesture of de-escalation as the May-

or and Gary continued to exchange words while other Council members packed their items.

The meeting ended after about 2 hours 15 minutes, which included a brief closed session and a break. Generally speaking, only items on the agenda can be discussed in regular Council meetings. One of the residents who showed up to speak on May 9 – who wished to remain anonymous – confirmed in a phone conversation with the Times that the group did not attempt to have their concerns put on the agenda in advance of the meeting, and were instead hoping to be heard on record by virtue of showing up as a united group. The resident confirmed that a private discussion about roads issues did take place between the group and all five members of Council “after the cameras were turned off”.

by Township staff for field rentals for minor sports, I fail to see how the administrative costs from collecting the fees wouldn’t usurp the revenue anyway. The result? You’ve achieved nothing but insult the taxpayer, who once again is left feeling like their tax dollars get lost in a never ending abyss. Taxpayers deserve to feel that our tax payments are paying for something besides garbage pick up. I love that we have two pools, two arenas, and multiple recreational fields and parks, but we pay enough taxes for these without adding more fees. When visiting the Winchester Arena with a group of March Break Camp kids for public skating earlier this year, I proudly told the kids “we all own this property, it’s a public space that my taxes and your parents’ taxes pay for”. The kids were very amused. There is nothing wrong with user fees in some contexts, particularly insofar as it helps to organize the booking of spaces such as the pools and the arenas. I would never question fees

for booking other facilities such as the Old Town Hall, for example. But when it comes to a patch of grass nestled beside the train tracks in the west end of Chesterville – let each and

every one of us taxpayers feel they have earned the right to call it our own. Let us have these reminders that our taxes pay for something other than garbage pick up and occasional road maintenance projects. What is lost in user fees will be made up for in smiles.

culverts

Commonly uncommon

by Brandon Mayer

Would it be fair to say that some policies being rolled out by our provincial government have been far from popular lately? Not all such policies of course, but certainly the ones that have turned heads and made headlines. The Greenbelt scandal immediately comes to mind, as does the push toward privatized healthcare, and the recent reaffirmation by the Court of Appeal that Bill 124 (which capped public sector wage increases at 1% per year for 3 years beginning in 2019) was unconstitutional.

Probably the most concerning of all the above for many people is the healthcare crisis in this province. I never remember a hospital visit being “fast”, even as a kid, but 10-12 hours being the norm just to see a doctor in a hospital is absolutely unacceptable. Many will say that in the US – where healthcare is privatized – a person would never fathom waiting even a fraction of that time. But pri-

vate and public healthcare are two different systems, both of which can function smoothly when run correctly. Our healthcare in Ontario is not “free” – high taxes pay for it, and so it should be able to provide an acceptable and efficient level of service.

What concerns me is what health care wait times have done to our mentality. As I type this, my right arm is – for lack of a more elegant term – messed up. I’m not a doctor so I won’t pretend to know what’s wrong with it, but it feels twisted and mangled. It has zero strength and hurts even just to squeeze my fingers. I would like to see a doctor, maybe have some tests run, but who has the time and patience for that anymore? My family doctor is 40 minutes away and usually overbooked. And there is no way I am spending over half of my Saturday in an emergency room.

My younger son was in a similar boat when he banged his head at school last week. He was worried he might have a concussion, but the usual knee-

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

All levels of government (including our municipality) have latched onto, and bandy about, the phrase "affordable housing" as one solution to the "housing crisis" in this country. I would just like to ask: what is the definition of 'affordable'? Affordable used to be 30% of one's gross income (which none of us receives anyway!), but that definition has long since passed.

Trying to purchase a house for a first-time buyer is not 'affordable'. Federal government programmes only support the purchase of new homes: not pandering to the developers are we?

Trying to raise a mortgage? Recently, a 'B level lender' offered us a mortgage for 7%, which was

OK, but the lender's fee was 1.5% of the purchase price. So, on a $350,000 purchase, that's $5,250, then the legal fees, and then a few other fees, like hydro & water hook-up… well, that's a goodly amount of my son's hard earned savings gone, before he's even moved in. (Land transfer fees are waived for first-time buyers, but vary from 0.5 - 2% of the purchase price.)

So, Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Poilievre, Mr. Singh and Mr. Ford, please let me know what is meant by "affordable"? I have not heard much discussion on the criteria for this, so glibly stating "affordable housing" is a bit hollow. Also, be very careful: all of the parties risk alienating a large chunk of society who don't feel they will ever get anywhere using the current political system, and that is

jerk reminder from dad kicked in: “If we go to the hospital, we won’t be home until bed time”. I had forgotten that my kids are lucky enough to have a local, highly respected doctor right in Winchester who will usually take same day or next day appointments (this seems like an Ontario rarity), but thankfully it was moot – some rest at home and my son soon felt right as rain.

Complain as I may, I also like to be fair. What inspired this editorial was learning of two things recently that I feel Doug Ford’s Ontario government has actually done right. One is a regulation that will take effect in the fall of 2024, severely restricting student cellphone use in schools. For students in kindergarten to grade 6, their phones will need to be kept on silent and out of sight for the entire school day. For students in grades 7 to 12, their phones must not be used during class time (i.e. they can only be used during breaks and free periods).

I can already hear the outcry from parents who

have safety concerns. Many parents pay a cellphone bill for their child specifically so that their child has a communication device in emergencies. My wife and I are included in this demographic. But no one is saying that your child is going to be searched and have their cellphone locked in a drawer upon arriving at school. “Out of sight” can easily translate to “in your pocket” or at worst, “in your bag”. And “on silent” does not mean “off”. In other words, your child will still have a fully functional communication device, accessible and ready in an emergency, if you so choose. Even in a non-emergency, there would be little to stop your child from texting or calling you secretly from the bathroom.

What this new policy does accomplish relates to something I have been pointing out for months – kids can’t focus anymore. In fact, neither can many adults. Are screens to blame? It seems likely, and there’s no sense in denying it anymore. Kids and adults alike are hav-

ing their brains constantly overstimulated, and then act like drug addicts awaiting their next fix when they are expected to sit and pay attention to something without the same stimulatory capacity (prime example – a teacher talking at the front of the room). This new policy on restricting cellphone presence in schools is refreshing. It takes a stance in a way that will actually help students – perhaps in a tremendous way in terms of both quality of education and brain development – without making the educators out to be the “bad guys” since they can “blame” the provincial regulation.

The other new provincial government policy that I support is the increase of speed limits on an increasing number of 400-series highway sections throughout Ontario. This includes the entire stretch of the 416. The speed limit will permanently increase to 110 km/h in July. This is a true example of a “for the people” decision. Ontario’s 400-series highways are designed to accommodate higher speeds, and higher

limits improve efficiency and simply makes commuters’ lives easier. The province only stands to lose from the higher speed limits, in the sense that less speeding fines will be issued if drivers continue going “status quo” speeds. But this decision was not made with tax revenue in mind, it seems to have been made as an answer to the simple question “what makes sense?”

Common sense is commonly uncommon when it comes to government decision making. The provincial government has certainly made some bad and some good decisions lately. Perhaps the recent good decisions should be a lesson for all levels of government: everybody wins when common sense prevails.

a recipe for unrest. Andrew M. Thriscutt

Dear Editor, I read with interest your article on the Chesterville Post Office. The push-toopen button is not the only issue. There is no disabled parking; the distance in places from the street to the sidewalk is higher in places (balance issues); snow removal isn’t done as well as it could be which makes getting off the street onto the sidewalk difficult; and some residents aren’t considerate and park in such a way others have to pass, pull in and back up (when this happens I purposely back up so close to the car they have to back up to leave). Parking lines would be helpful. It is after all a government building.

I live on Forward Road and in the back of me is the Thompson subdivision. I, and others, have written the Canada Post Corporation to request community mailboxes in our vicinity. I have mobility issues and find getting in my car and driving all the way into Chesterville to get mail annoying so I seldom go. The parking and access to the post office are obstacles. Winter is especially difficult as outlined above and falling is a concern. In addition, many residents near me are retired and/or seniors and these numbers will continue to rise. A community mailbox would be welcomed by many. If mail is mistakenly put in my mailbox, which has happened the past three times, residents wait a long time to get their misdirected mail!

I hope others have responded. I have been planning to write to Canada Post again.

Thanks for your article.

Annemarie Manuge

Dear Editor, On behalf of The Kemptville Male Choir, I'd like to express my thanks to you and your staff for accommodating our request for help, in seeking suitable replacements for our "Aboutto-depart" Director and Ac-

companist. We hope that the North Grenville Times, The North Dundas Times and our own efforts turn out to be successful. Time will tell and I/we will keep you informed, as to how our search has progressed.

Once again thanks very much for the help, which is very much appreciated, by us all.

The Kemptville Male Choir. John Baldwin, KMC Committee Representative

SNC reminds residents to be aware of ticks this summer

As warmer temperatures settle in, so do the prevalence of ticks in the region.

South Nation Conservation (SNC) would like to remind residents and visitors to be vigilant when outdoors and take precautions against tick bites to reduce the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses while enjoying nature.

Lyme disease and similar illnesses can result from bites by infected blacklegged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks, potentially leading to severe infections. Although not every tick carries disease, the blacklegged (deer) tick is common within SNC’s jurisdiction in Eastern Ontario and carriers of the disease cannot be distinguished from non-carriers.

“With summer approaching, we are thrilled to see more people enjoying their local environment,” said John Mesman, SNC’s Managing Director of Conservation Lands. “Staying on designated public trails can help reduce potential interactions with ticks, however, it’s important that everyone takes steps to protect from tick bites.”

Symptoms of Lyme disease, such as fever, headache, chills, muscle and joint

pain, fatigue, and a circular rash resembling a bull's eye should prompt immediate consultation with a healthcare provider.

The risk of tick bites increases when residents, visitors, and their pets are outside in wooded areas, or areas with tall grass and shrubs. The risk is not only for those living in a rural setting. Ticks can be found anywhere, including suburban and city locations.

“Blacklegged ticks are continuing to spread to new areas in Ontario,” explained Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health, Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU). “By being vigilant, wearing appropriate clothing and regularly checking for ticks, we can help prevent tick-borne illnesses so that everyone can safely enjoy trips outdoors.”

SNC and the EOHU encourage the following protective measures when outdoors:

- Wear light-coloured clothing for easy tick detection

- Wear long sleeve shirts, pants tucked into socks, and closed-toed shoes when outdoors, especially in wooded or tall grass areas

- Apply insect repellent

containing DEET or Icaridin to exposed skin and clothing

- Check yourself, children, and pets for ticks after being outdoors

- If bitten by a tick, carefully remove the tick as soon as possible – infected blacklegged ticks need to be attached for at least 24 hours to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease

Ticks can be removed with a clean, fine point tweezer: grasp the head as close to the skin as possible and slowly pull it out, without twisting. Wash the bite area with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer.

As of January 2023, pharmacists are now able to prescribe antibiotics to treat tick bites to prevent Lyme disease, as a precaution. Please consult your doctor if you are concerned of an infection associated with a tick bite.

Please visit the EOHU website for more information on ticks and Lyme disease in Eastern Ontario: www.eohu.ca/lyme FOR MORE INFORMATION: Erin Thorne, SNC Communications Specialist, 1-877-984-2948 ethorne@nation.on.ca.

Conservation sites reopening

With summer fast approaching, South Nation Conservation (SNC) is reopening its seasonal Conservation Areas, marking the changing season and welcoming the return of lush, green landscapes.

All parks and boat ramps are now accessible to the public!

In preparation for the reopening of seasonal Conservation Areas ahead of the May Long Weekend, docks are being installed and gates will be unlocked at the following boat launches:

- High Falls and Doran Park Conservation Areas (Casselman)

- St. Albert Conservation Area (St. Albert)

- Crysler Park Boat Launch (Crysler)

- Embrun Boat Launch (Embrun)

- Cass Bridge Conservation Area (Winchester)

- Jessup's Falls Conservation Area (Plantagenet)

- Chesterville Waterfront Docks and Boat Launch (Chesterville)

- Spencerville Mill Riverside Park and Boat Launch (Spencerville) Additionally, the following seasonal sites without docks will reopen:

- Oak Valley Pioneer Park Conservation Area (Winchester Springs)

- McIntosh Memorial

Park Conservation Area (Berwick)

- Findlay Creek Boardwalk Conservation Area (Ottawa)

- Mill Run Conservation Area (Augusta)

Portable washrooms have been installed in all of SNC’s Conservation Areas, including those that are maintained yearround, like the Warwick Forest (Berwick), Robert Graham Forest (Brinston), Oschmann Forest (Ormond), Two Creeks Forest (Morrisburg), Reveler (Berwick), W.E. Burton and J. Henry Tweed (Russell) and Nokomis Park (Limoges).

SNC reminds anglers that it is unsafe and illegal to fish within 23 metres of a dam. Fish congregate in these areas and fishing prevents many fish species from spawning, which pose significant risks to fish populations. Please use safe and appropriate locations away from water control structures.

“We are very happy to

welcome visitors back every spring to our Conservation Areas so that more people can step outdoors and out into nature” said John Mesman, SNC’s Managing Director, Property, Conservation Lands and Community Outreach. “Our team works hard this time of year to ensure the parks are ready to open for the May Long weekend” adds Mesman.

SNC kindly reminds trail visitors to please keep their pets on leash, not to litter or remove plants from Conservation Areas, and be respectful and courteous to other visitors.

SNC manages 20,000 acres of Community Forest in Eastern Ontario. Many of the day-use Conservation Areas under its management have been generously donated through SNC’s Land Securement Program. This initiative aims to preserve natural legacies for donors and offer the community spaces to connect with nature.

SNC is a not-for-profit, community-based environmental agency that relies on donations and self-generated revenue to protect and enhance the local environment across its 4,480 squarekilometer jurisdiction, on behalf of its 16 partner municipalities.

For a complete list of Conservation Areas managed by SNC, please visit: www.nation.on.ca/ recreation/about-recreation

Baldwin's Birds

Welcome Back!

On a beautiful May 6 afternoon, a glittering Ruby throat heralded the arrival back to the area of a male Ruby Throated Hummingbird. It appeared right in the centre spot feeder in front of our window, occupied by one of my Birdie Block feeders, and not its usual feeder! It hovered momentarily and was gone, just like that, seeking someone else, who was more thoughtful, to find some food! I didn't even get a chance to show you a picture of it, it was gone so quickly! Ah well, maybe it will be back again soon to find the feeder it was looking for and which was installed in its rightful position, within a quarter of an hour of the "sighting", but it didn't return and, believe me, I waited with camera ready

for a very long time!

I wasn't the only one to see a Hummingbird on that day. A friend of mine, living a few miles west of us, saw one too and also a couple of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks - great! We did, however, get a Hummingbird the next day, so my frantic effort to put up a feeder was not entirely in vain!

My waiting sojourn was not entirely wasted, because many other birds and, of course, three different colored squirrels, provided me with plenty of things to fill my camera lens with, whilst I waited hopefully for another Hummingbird sighting. One of the squirrels, a black one, was obviously a Mum, given away by the fact that she had quite distended teats, a factor unnoticed before for many of the previous

Nanda

Wubs Huizenga Marketing Consultant nanda@ndtimes.ca

613.223.9765

ww.ndtimes.ca

years that these particular visitors have been coming here feeding, somewhat unwantedly!

Whilst we excitedly await for other birds to return, our resident ones, such as the House and Gold Finches, continue to change from their winter colours into their more familiar and brighter summer colours. This transition is very subtle, but, when you see them in the sunlight, the changes are really strikingly emphasized and not to be missed.

Behind the scenes there is also a lot of other activity going on, as nests have to be built, eggs laid, and then young to be reared. My nesting shelf to the rear of my garage is presently occupied by a Robin, who is sitting patiently on her eggs awaiting the hatching of the next generation. Perhaps you, too, are witnessing all the various things happening in the avian world at this busy time of the year. Enjoy, but stay safe and well.

Cheers, John Baldwin

Around Town with Nanda

Have an event or special occasion that you would like photographed for the paper? Let me know. nanda@ndtimes.ca

COLLISION CENTER

Phil Carkner, Owner

613.774.2733 www.dscollision.com admin@dscollisioncenter.com 12029 Dawley Drive, Winchester, ON

Hour Towing Assitance 1.800.663.9264

Milne, Franklin James “Frank” (1933-2024)

Suddenly at the Kemptville District Hospital on Friday May 3, 2024. Frank Milne of Mountain.

Beloved husband of the late Betty (Nee Chamberlain). Loving Dad of James (Arika), Martha (Keith) Friend and John (Nicole). Cherished Grandpa of Ryan (Merissa), Kirsten (Gerald), Sarah (Austin), Tyler, Kassie and great-grandchildren Emily, Franklin, Asher, Cynthia, Alexis, and Keirsten. Survived by his sister Mary (late Ralph) Fawcett, Doug (Phyllis) and sisters-in-law Jean and Joan Milne. Predeceased by his parents Frank and Ruth Milne, his brothers Art, Bob, and Allan Milne. Fondly remembered by the many nieces, nephews, neighbours, Hallville United Church congregation and longtime friends.

By Frank’s wish, Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mountain Township Agricultural Hall, 2967 Lough Road, South Mountain on Thursday May 9, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m.

By family request donations in Memory of Frank may be made to the Hallville United Church or the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation in support of the New Dundas Manor.

Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain (613-989-3836). Online condolences may be made at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca

Huizenga Fran (Luth)

May 4, 2024

Peacefully at home on Saturday, May 4, 2024 Fran Huizenga, at the age of 79. Loving wife of Henk Huizenga. Dear mother of Nanda Wubs Huizenga and Mike (Archel). Cherished Oma of Matthew (May), Christopher, Ryan, Prince, Angelina, Tessa and the late Robert. Sister of Harry (Greet), Trijn (Rob) and Jan Meindert. Will always be remembered by extended family Richard, Alice and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in Canada and the Netherlands. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Daley Family Funeral Home, 6971 Bank St. from 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Wednesday May 8. Funeral Thursday May 9 at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, 3782 Russell Rd. Ottawa at 11 am. The family would like to thank the staff of the Ottawa General Hospital and the Winchester District Hospital for their care over the last months. In lieu of flowers, donations made to Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation, 1500 Alta Vista Dr. Ottawa, ON K1G 3Y9 would be appreciated. Condolences may be left at www.daleyffh.ca.

Cardiovascular Health 101

Heart attacks are common and deadly. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control acknowledges that one person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. The Government of Canada reports about 14 adults aged 20 and over with diagnosed heart disease die every hour. But how many of these deaths are premature and preventable, and why don’t people take simple steps to save their lives?

Atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in arteries, is a leading cause of heart disease. What doctors don’t do enough is educate patients on natural alternatives to prescription drugs. Why? Because most doctors aren’t trained in natural approaches to disease prevention.

Vitamin C and lysine can help prevent this condition by inhibiting the formation of arterial plaque. Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, studied how high doses of vitamin C protect against heart disease, particularly in arteries closest to the heart where pressure is greatest.

Vitamin C and lysine work synergistically to strengthen blood vessels, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, and promote overall heart function. Vitamin C, an antioxidant, protects the delicate lining of blood vessels from oxidative damage. Lysine, when present in sufficient quantities, aids in the removal of excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. Together, they reduce the risk of plaque formation and maintain clear and healthy arteries.

Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a structural protein that provides strength and flexibility to blood vessel walls. Lysine, in turn, contributes to collagen production and the repair of vascular tissues. This combined action strengthens blood vessels, reducing the likelihood of vessel wall weakness or rupture.

The cardiovascular benefits of high-dose vitamin C and lysine extend to improving overall heart function. By reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and maintaining vascular integrity, they support optimal blood flow, contributing to a healthier and more efficient heart.

Moreover, Vitamin C has been shown to lower blood pressure, a significant risk factor for heart disease. It acts as a natural vasodilator, relaxing blood vessels and helping to regulate blood pressure levels.

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of lipoprotein associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Elevated Lp(a) levels are often linked to a higher likelihood of atherosclerosis. High-dose vitamin C has been found to help reduce Lp(a) levels.

A study published in the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology found that a combination of vitamin C and lysine reduced oxidative stress and improved the function of endothelial cells which line the interior of blood vessels.

Additionally, research published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition demonstrated that supplementation with vitamin C and lysine improved markers of cardiovascular health in individuals with high cholesterol levels.

What to do if you have already suffered a coronary attack and lived through it? Your doctor likely has you on cholesterol lowering drugs. You’ve probably been told that statins are the only choice you have. The list of side effects of these drugs – muscle pain, kidney and liver damage, and elevated blood sugar among them – can be managed, you’re told. Why cardiologists are so closed-minded to the alternative of high dose vitamin C and lysine is a frustrating problem. There are too many rich pharmaceutical companies influencing the practice of medicine. No one gets rich from a natural therapy that can’t be patented.

There is an alternative to taking statins after a heart attack. And there is a powerful rationale for preventing cardiovascular disease with daily high doses of vitamin C and lysine. Your health is at stake. Take this article to your doctor and have a discussion. A naturopathic doctor is a good move for a second opinion.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly enewsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones.

Op-ed

I had a tough day

by Kevin Laing

I had a tough day today. Part of it relates to the extra duties I’ve experienced because my bride is in the hospital for a few days, and will likely be staying there for a few more as she battles some infectious bug.

As a result, I’ve been rushing about doing garbage/recycling duties, taking the dog off to ‘camp’ while we’ve hired folks to do the yard work I can no longer do, and then retrieving our hound, and then doing the care and feeding of her and our cats, and then making meals for myself.

Not only has my dearest been Dr. Mom in our household for 48+ years, but she was also “Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet” for my 35+ years in Canada’s Navy. Navy Wife… toughest job in the Navy! She raised our two kids to be positive contributors to Canada during all of my deployments.

I’m….bushed! I don’t know how she managed to do it during my long absences in service to her Majesty. Tonight, I thanked her for her fortitude and support to me and our kids in all of our careers (hers too!).

But that’s not why I’ve had a tough day.

On my way out of the hospital, I passed a room two doors down from my bride and heard a somewhat feeble, but recognizable voice, “Hey buddy, how are yuh?” I stopped, turned, and saw the eyes, then the face that I recognized. To shield the individual, I’ll just call him ”J”. I had last seen him 3 or 4 years ago in the parking lot of our local Giant Tiger. We’d lost touch. Today, I was looking at someone who resembled an inmate from Nazi death camps like Auschwitz or Buchenwald. I met “J” maybe 20 years ago when he was working for the township at the local transfer station for garbage, yard waste, and recyclables. I came to know him and several of his colleagues and they always were so ‘chipper’ and helpful when I’d bring in my truck and trailer loaded down with refuse from my home remodelling efforts for the house we purchased in NG in 2001, and/or the underbrush and downed trees and broken branches remaining on our property from the ’98 Ice Storm. Invariably, they all seemed to be a happy bunch.

I’m guessing that it was about 10-12 years ago that

North Dundas Pet of the Week

submit your favourite pet pet photo to nanda@ndtimes.ca

the County let him go. I don’t know why, but he was a tad bitter that he didn’t get offered a “package”, nor a pension. He was a mechanically oriented fellow. And he was a hard worker with a heart of gold. He was always ready and willing to help. I know, because I hired him to help me out in our new place in town as we planted gardens, doing some landscaping and, most of all, keeping my gas-powered yard implements in working order (I’m not mechanically minded)!

From all of the engagements that we’ve had over the past 20 years, he always impressed me as being a solid, positive, and contributing member of our community. From that meeting at the GT ‘boutique’ parking lot I learned that he had fallen on hard times. I knew that his partner had passed away a few years previously. Now I learned that he had been evicted from the modest riverfront property that they shared and he had been maintaining as a long-term tenant. I think that he mentioned to me that our Mayor was behind him in line at GT and they had a very good exchange about the shortage of housing in our area for folks of modest means. He

greatly respects our Mayor and her efforts to help him. Well, that’s all in the past now. He’s spent weeks in hospital in Ottawa already this year and has talked with numerous specialists. His future is numbered in days one way or t’other. We had a brief but good chat this afternoon, and he’s made all of his arrangements. I certainly can’t fault him for the path he’s chosen. By this time next week, when you’re reading this, he will have cashed in his chips and taken the “Freedom Bird.” Tomorrow, and maybe over the next several days, I’ll pop in and see him… and bring him an Ice Cap. His eyes lit up when I mentioned that today. “It will be very soothing going down my throat,” he said.

That’s why I’ve had a tough day.

Thanks “J”. You’re a good man. May you rest in Peace.

Rousseau 9-year-old miniature poodle. (Doing a handstand) Owner Natalie Twardawa

Bianca the Cat. 5 years old. Owner Carolyn Edwards.

Everybody’s talking

by David Shanahan

Isn’t language simply miraculous? We talk and write and use it to communicate, to express ourselves, to discuss, debate, consider, and make statements about who we are and what we believe. People may like to point out that various animals can communicate, some pet lovers even believe their cat or dog understands every word their owners say, - and they may be right. But until a cat or dog or horse manages to write a poem, an opera, a novel, or even a bawdy limerick, there can be no doubt that people have a gift that is unique and precious.

Think about what you’re doing right now. You are looking at black marks on a page, gathered into groups, divided by other black symbols, and you are understanding the meaning of what they represent. Is that not amazing? It’s not even as though you have to slowly consider each letter in relation to every other letter and symbol to decipher what they are meant

to say. You just fly through the sentences (you can even recognise that they are separate sentences) and not really have to pause for thought.

Of course, the content of the sentences may cause you some trouble, the clumsiness of the writing may be an impediment, or the depth of the thoughts being expressed may be an issue, but that is not the fault of the letters as they are arranged on the page; that is down to the writer. It is also true that some people find the task of reading difficult because of other reasons, such as dyslexia, or some other issue; but, overall, language is something that we have to share, an extremely precious gift without which life would be almost completely worse.

But it is so much more than that. How many different languages are there in the world today? How many variations of each one? I spent the past few weeks back in Ireland and I was again reminded of how language expresses culture, history, character in a way that is different in each nation. Anyone who can speak

more than one language knows how much fluency in one provides insight into the culture, way of thinking, mind set and worldview of those whose native language it is. Being able to speak another’s language adds incredibly to an understanding of that other, because it is more than syntax, sentence structure, or vocabulary that is different from language to language. I am also reminded of what that Irish genius, Oscar Wilde, said about the peoples on North America on the one hand, and Ireland and Britain on the other: “We are two peoples divided by a common language”. People on either side of the Atlantic speak English, but not the same version. Individual words for specific things are different (garbage or rubbish, truck or lorry, etc.). Even within one country there are massive variations of the language spoken, whether regional dialects or pronunciation of words. This is why subtitles are so important when watching movies or tv shows from other English-speaking countries! The funny thing is that you can see that even

Life with Connor the Weatherman

featuring Connor Mockett

Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another week of Life with Connor the Weatherman. Last column, I talked about my upcoming chasecation to Tornado Alley in the United States, and what the plan was to get out that way from New Brunswick. I finally left this past Monday after work, so here’s the story of the first few days of travel.

To get some extra work hours before I left for vacation, I worked on Monday. I typically don’t work on Monday’s here, but every cent is worth it, so I offered to my manager that I can work for them on Monday. I started at my usual 6:00am, skipped my lunch, and left at 2:00pm. I changed out of my work

clothes, and hopped onto the Trans Canada Highway in Moncton, and hit the road back to Ontario! I wanted to drive as far as I possibly could after I left work, so I could spend as much time in Ontario as possible before heading down south from there. I ended up driving about 9 hours, and stopped at a really nice Best Western in Drummondville, Quebec. A little bit more expensive than I’d hoped for only being there for about 6 hours, but it is better than driving sleepy, which can be really dangerous with micro-sleeps behind the wheel. I’ve had my fair share of sleepy drives (unintentionally), so I knew driving an extra 3 hours to home wasn’t really the best idea. I checked into the hotel and was fast asleep. It was short and sweet, as I said above I was only there for about 6 hours. I set my alarm for 5:15am, and was out of there by 5:45am to continue the rest of the drive home. I got back into Winchester by 9:00am, so just about 3 hours from Drummond-

subtitles get it wrong quite often: apparently some accents are even hard to decipher for technology.

Many of these variations are disappearing, however, as mass media, and especially movies and tv, tend to encourage a homogenization of language across borders. This is not an unusual development. The fact is that languages are becoming simpler over time. Sometimes this is a deliberate act, as with Noah Webster and his American Dictionary, where he popularised a simpler way of spelling words, now considered “American” (e.g., center rather than centre, honor rather than honour, program rather than programme).

But the oldest languages are the most complicated in terms of word endings, tenses, vocabulary, etc., as is clear from the three oldest literary languages in Europe, Latin, Greek, and Irish. In older languages, words change in spelling according to their case: genitive, accusative, dative, etc. In English, by contrast, nouns remain the same regardless of case, as English is a far

ville to Winchester, stops for gas and bathroom included. I wanted enough time to go say hello to friends that I haven’t seen in ages, so that’s why I arrived so early in the day. I spent the rest of the day hanging out, and I also got a new auto starter put into my Escape. Best $350 bucks I’ve ever spent, that thing is amazing.

On Wednesday, it was time for another long haul drive. I left Winchester at 6:00am that morning, and made my way to Terre Haute, Indiana where I stayed the night at a Drury Hotel & Suites. First time at a Drury for me, and it was quite nice. Nothing better than a clean hotel with nice people. The drive itself was a bit long, about 13 hours because of the border crossing being a little bit slow at Gananoque and I-81 in New York State. I had to drive through a few cities as well, Buffalo, Columbus, Cincinnati just to name a few.

I slept a little bit longer in Terre Haute because my drive the day after was a little bit shorter,

more recent language than Irish, for example.

One other fascinating point: the oldest languages seem to have a common ancestry. Irish, as a Celtic language, is closest in structure and vocabulary to Sanskrit, the ancestral language of the Indian sub-continent. IndoEuropean languages share a great deal in that way. And consider: similar analysis of other major tongues, French, Italian, Spanish, etc., lend

themselves to more discoveries like this.

As language becomes more homogenous, maybe we’re get to a point where we can all understand each other, have insight into each other’s culture, thinking, world views. Maybe then we can explore another saying, this time by Blaise Pascal in his native French: “Tout comprendre c'est tout pardonner” - “To understand is to forgive.”

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

I am getting on in years, and I can still remember Ma Cormier’s rendition of Mac and Cheese. It’s a great old standard to either have as a meal, or to accompany other dishes. Friends of ours made a tradition of serving Mac and Cheese at parties where kids were present.

Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

Ingredients:

• 1, 8 oz package of macaroni noodles (cooked al dente)

• 2 extra large eggs, beaten

• ½ cup of cubed ham

• ¾ cup of grated cheddar cheese

• 3 tablespoons of butter

• A sprinkle of black pepper

Preparation:

• Preheat your oven to 400 F degrees

• Place your drained and still hot macaroni in a roasting pan

• Mix in a tablespoon of butter till melted

• Mix in ½ cup of the cheese, the ham and the beaten eggs

• Sprinkle in some black pepper

only about 9 hours, which is a walk in the park for me. My final destination to get into Tornado Alley was Norman, Oklahoma, which lots of chasers use as their general sitting area as it’s kind of right in the middle of everything. And that was the end of the drive to get there!

I haven’t been on any chases yet, as the weather has been calm here for numerous days. That will likely change past May 20th, as new systems come into the US. Realistically, it’s good this region had a break, because the last days of April and first half of May were absolutely crazy for tornado outbreaks across the Plains.

You will all see my photos on Facebook and chase updates as well when we start to get rolling. And, a reminder, I’ll be chasing with Manitoba Storm Chaser Jordan Carruthers, Twisted Brothers Chasing Tom Smetana, and Weather Chaser Braydon Morisseau while I’m here, so there will be plenty of content!

• Top with the remaining cheese and some dabs of butter

• Bake on the top rack of your oven for about 15 minutes and golden brown

There are many variations of this simple dish. For example, you can use a pre-cooked and cubed chicken breast instead of the ham. Or, you can cook up a half a pound of bacon and use it as a different flavour. Some folks add a half a cup of stewed tomatoes to the mix.

Let me know what your family’s version is at pcormier@ ranaprocess.com.

Around Town with Nanda

Have an event or special occasion that you would like photographed for the paper? Let me know. nanda@ndtimes.ca

UPCOMING EVENTS

68th Mountain-south mountain United church BBQ. United church BBQ may 25 from 11 am to 6 pm at the church south mountain. Contact:Kevin Boyd for more info. 613-989-1389

Spencerville Agricultural Society planning general meetings. If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Jun 10, Jul 8, Aug 12, Oct 21, Nov 11. The Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario

Matt's Iphone Repair

613-899-7203

Serving Winchester & Area

Card of thanks

I would like to thank Dr Mussett and staff at the Brockville general hospital, Dr Steele and staff and Carefore for all their professional care. Thank you to my family, friends, neighbours, and Harvey and Merilyn for all their help. Prayers, cards, phone calls and texts were greatly appreciated. In the past year, there have been a lot of kind, thoughtful people who have offered me a helping hand when I needed it.

Eileen Arbuthnot

ACROSS

1. Anagram of "Slam"

5. Pack down

9. Type of salmon

13. Chair

14. Evade

16. In the center of

17. Part of a book

CHURCH Directory

To have your Church listed here please contact Nanda at nanda@ngtimes.ca

18. Scuba user

19. Kiddie

20. Talent

22. Annihilates

24. Coin opening

26. Direct (to)

27. It stops heartburn

30. Gales

33. Hallway

35. What one?

45. Theater area

48. Choose

51. Thinks logically

52. Eagle's home

54. Seats oneself

55. Blunders

59. Shoestrings

62. Fifty-three in Roman numerals

63. Indolence

65. Anagram of "Root"

66. Prefix meaning "Within"

67. Brown shade

68. Majestic

69. Gulf port

70. D D D

4. Relating to stars

5. Small amount

6. Ardent

7. Go-getter

8. Fragments

9. Nose-and-throat problem

10. Leave out

11. Trek

12. Lyric poems

15. Float 21. Hubs

23. Cat sound

25. Ocean motion

27. Passed with flying colors

28. Jottings

29. Dung beetle

31. It sees small things

32. Disdain

34. Blame

36. Garden tools

39. Driveway surface

40. Minerals

43. Joyfulness

44. Coral formation

46. Follow

47. Lands and wealth

49. Uncouth

50. Cultivated 53. Run off to wed 55. Request 56. Peel

57. Assistant

58. Anagram of "Ties"

60. A Great Lake 61. Punch 64. Possesses

Southgate Winchester Campus

539 Main Street, Winchester

Phone: 613-258-6123

www.horizonspainting.ca

Kutebah Alyousef kutebah1984@gmail.com 613-276-4583

https://southgatechurch.com/ Services: Sundays at 10am (Kids program for toddlers - Gr 6) Play Group for parents of babies to preschool meets Wednesdays at 10am.

The Pulse Youth (Gr 6 -12) meets bi-weekly on Fridays at 7pm.

The Ladies Group meets bimonthly. Contact the church office for more info

THE GATHERING HOUSE

2 Water Street

Chesterville, ON K0C 1H0

613-448-1758 Sunday church service 10 am. Nursery and Sunday school available for children.

Various adult Bible studies throughout the week. Details at thegatheringhouse.ca

STEM program & Youth group Wednesdays at 6:30 pm

Playgroup drop in 10:30 am on Fridays

HUB youth drop in 7 -10 pm

Fridays

Cafe Mon & Fri 9 am -4 pm Wed 12 -4 pm

Solomon’ Porch

Nationside Pentecostal Church

Pastor Scott Sayers

Meeting Sunday 10:30am. 9 William St. Chesterville, Ont. ( The Nelson LaPrade Centre) Box 292 Chesterville 613-448-2272 nationsidepentecostalchurch.ca

37. Greek letter

38. Muse of poetry

41. Dove's sound

42. Discourage

71. Search DOWN

1. Snakes

2. Fluid escape

3. Judge

to last week’s Sudoku

Local softball team

to a great start

The Winchester U11 Red Sox girls softball team played their season opener against ROMAS 1 (Rideau Osgoode Manotick Softball Association) on Tuesday May 7 at George McLean Park in Manotick. Lyla Hooper pitched the first 2 innings for the Sox, with Peyton Moore pitching the 3rd inning and Ellie Chambers finished the game pitching the last 2 innings.

Avery Heuff started the first inning with a lead off single hit. Avery continued the streak getting on base at the next 3 at-bats. Kendall Rowe hit a beauty ground ball up the center infield in the last inning to bring in the final run.

The final score was 10-8 for the Sox. The next game is Monday May 20th against the Kemptville Wildcats at the Winchester Sox Field. First pitch is at 6pm.

No more stolen sisters

by David Shanahan

Earlier this month, May 5 marked Red Dress Day, or REDress Day, as it was originally known. It was a day to remember and honour the incredibly high number of missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada. It may be that people are getting a little jaded with all the special days of Orange, Red, Green and other coloured memorial days, but it is important that we not allow the issues at the core of these days of remembrance to be forgotten. So, it is worth discussing them again, even after the “day” itself has passed, to take them out of an artificial context and keep them before us on a more regular basis.

Accounts show that the roots of Red Dress Day can be traced back to the powerful art project of Canadian Métis artist Jaime Black in 2010, when the “REDress Project” was initiated as a visual reminder of the stag-

gering number of missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada. Red dresses were hung in public spaces, from trees to lamp posts, creating a stark contrast against the landscape, evoking both sorrow and resilience. What started as an art installation soon morphed into a movement. Indigenous Peoples, allies and advocates across Canada and beyond embraced the symbolic red dress as a rallying cry for awareness and action. Red Dress Day emerged as an annual event, bringing people together to honour the lives lost and demand justice for the victims and their families.

Currently, statistics show that Indigenous women make up 16% of all femicide victims and 11% of all missing women. These high rates of violence have drawn widespread expressions of concern from national and international human rights authorities, which have repeatedly called for Canada to address the prob-

Major commuter route into Ottawa set to close

by Brandon Mayer

An upcoming closure of a stretch of Bank Street – otherwise known as County Road 31 within North Dundas – is sure to affect local commutes beginning next month, and a Winchester resident has vowed to make sure that North Dundas residents

lem. However, nearly four years after the release of the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and two years following the release of the National Action Plan, only two of the 231 Calls for Justice have been implemented, while an implementation timeline has yet to be released.

The Chiefs of Ontario First Nations Women’s Council issued a statement for Red Dress Day last week:

“May 5 is a day to honour and remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. As women leaders, it is our responsibility to amplify their voice, advocate for justice, and work towards ending the violence that plagues our communities,” said First Nations Women’s Council members.

“The implementation of a Red Dress Alert has been slow moving, with New Democratic Party Member of Parliament Leah Gazan leading the push for a national alert system to be put in place. On March 19, 2024, on behalf of the House of Commons, MP Gazan announced the beginning of their formal study for the proposed Red Dress Alert System. One month after the announcement, the 2024 Federal Budget revealed a

$1.3 million investment over a three-year period for the implementation of the alert system.

“However, Federal Budget 2024’s commitment to the safety of Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit people continues to fall short of what is needed. Due to this budgeting shortfall, Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Gary Anandasangaree has suggested piloting the Red Dress Alert in specific regions before implementing it on a national scale.

Frustration with the slow-moving progress in introducing such a critical tool for saving lives is felt by our First Nations communities. Early alert programs have been proven to be effective, and the Red Dress Alert will undoubtedly be a crucial step in advancing safety measures. As we work to raise awareness surrounding the crisis, we need to stay committed to supporting these efforts.

“The Women’s Council continues to advocate for priorities identified by our families and communities including a healing fund, community safety planning and a more coordinated approach to ensuring accessibility to needed services for all First Nations communities across Ontario.”

facilitate several different upgrades, including the construction of an intersection and a culvert, as well as water and sewer work, and roadway revitalization.

Mona is part of a group of businesses who are petitioning the City of Ottawa and meeting with Council there to propose other potential options that may be faster or less disruptive to the businesses and commuters in Findlay Creek.

Mona Zahiri lives in Winchester but works in Findlay Creek, right in the area that a planned road closure of approximately 7 months is set to soon take effect. Mona reports that a short stretch of Bank Street will be closed right in Findlay Creek, between the Starbucks at Shuttlworth Drive, and Miikana Road / Blais Road to the south.

Mona’s claim was independently verified with the City of Ottawa. The section she specified will indeed be fully closed to traffic between June and December of this year to

Mona wanted to spread the word about the upcoming closure specifically because she herself wouldn’t have known about it if a friendly neighbouring business owner hadn’t told her. “I’m really just trying to get the word out there,” she said. “As the biggest lover of Winchester, I really thought that the residents should know, and be able to pre-plan.”

Detour signs will be up for the duration of the closure, but as is usual with this kind of road work, commuters should expect delays, learn their alternative route, and leave in plenty of time to drive safely to the destination.

Back (l-r): Cory Brown (Coach), Ellie Chambers, Lyla Hooper, Kendall Rowe, Peyton Moore, Travis Rowe (Coach). Front (l-r): Avery Heuff, Samantha Corkery, Maeve Whelan, Sharly Hooper, Brooke Cinnamon.

Science proves it: Wollastonite delivers superior results

The potential of wollastonite is exciting, but even so there will inevitably be skeptics who question whether the mineral really can deliver the benefits the company is now promoting. The good news is that there is now a growing body of independently validated, evidence-based research that confirms that wollastonite can in fact become a powerful game changer for Ontario’s farmers.

One noteworthy example in this regard is an article entitled Mineral-Soil-Plant Nutrient Synergisms of Enhanced Weathering for Agriculture published in the July 2022 edition of the scientific journal Frontiers in Plant Science (www.frontiersin.org.).

Authored by researchers in the School of Engineering at the University of Guelph, it reports the findings of three separate lab-scale studies that looked respectively at the results achieved with green beans, soybeans and lettuce, and spring rye. Their overall conclusion was that the studies showed that wollastonite can potentially make an important contribution to supporting plant growth and improving soil health and produce quality.

The article noted that one of the distinctive characteristics of wollastonite is that, when it is applied to soil, it tends to break down much more rapidly than is case with other types of silicate rock. Through a process commonly referred to as Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), crushed wollastonite breaks down and draws down significant amounts of carbon dioxide into subsoil,

contributing to atmospheric removal. At the same time, it also releases valuable nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and in particular, plant available silicon. These have been shown to influence soil chemistry in ways that can make a significant difference for a variety of crops.

In all three studies, findings were determined by comparing results achieved for plants that had been grown in soil treated with wollastonite against results for a control group of plants grown in untreated soil. Several important characteristics were examined, including plant height, stem width, leaf blade width, root blade width, and aerial fresh and dry biomass. In all three cases, the differences observed were striking.

In the first study, which focused on green beans grown under high-stress conditions on a rooftop garden, the data showed that beans grown in wollastonite amended soil (WAS) experienced a 57.1% increase in plant biomass fresh weight, and an even greater (88.5%) increase in dry biomass weight. The study also notes a 4.1% increase in root biomass. The authors concluded that “Wollastonite amended soil promoted robust plant growth, thus demonstrating its potential for use as a soil amendment.”

The second study looked at results achieved with soybeans and lettuce grown in a greenhouse. The two crops that were chosen because of their economic importance in Ontario. Again, the results

observed attested to the benefits of wollastonite. In the case of soybeans, the study found that plant height, leaf area, and stem width were all statistically significantly higher in soybeans grown with wollastonite. The article summarizes that “Wollastonite skarn amendment caused soybean to grow larger and faster and yield more beans.”

Similarly impressive results were observed with lettuce: both plant height and leaf areas were statistically greater in lettuce grown with wollastonite, noting in particular that a 34% increase in leaf area equated to a 34% increase in yield. The authors stated that “Lettuce grown with wollastonite grows larger and faster, which results in a greater yield.”

The third study, which focused on spring rye also grown in a greenhouse, looked at the effects of wollastonite when applied in combination with urea fertilizer. Three samples were examined: a control group, and two others that had been treated, respectively, with fertilizer pellets with and without wollastonite. The study observed that the best results in terms of plant height and overall yield were achieved with the wollastonite fertilizer treatment. It also noted significant differences in the rate of uptake of silicon, an important nutrient for plants whose benefits are becoming better understood.

The next steps of this research are looking to confirm the observed effects in longterm field trials and study other benefits of wollastonite to croplands, such as stabilization of organic carbon and improvement of soil structure. More studies by agricultural researchers in Ontario are needed to help build a more complete understanding of the role of silicate minerals in sustainable agriculture.

Canadian Wollastonite is now working hard to get the word out to Ontario farmers and encourage more of them to give its product a try. Last fall the company entered into an innovation partnership with UNDO Carbon of the United Kingdom, and through the sale of carbon removal credits on the international market, the two companies are able to fully subsidize the cost of the wollastonite itself. To further sweeten the deal, CW is now offering a spring promotion wherein it pays the spreading costs. The only cost to participating farmers is the trucking charges from the mine site in Seely’s Bay.

Farmers interested in learning more about Canadian Wollastonite and its agriculture program can contact the company at 1 – 844 – 386 – 2841 or visit www.canadianwollastonite. com/carboncapture.

Workshops on recognizing and reporting hate crimes

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF), in collaboration with Statistics Canada, is launching a series of workshops on hate crimes in cities across Canada.

These two-day workshops for law enforcement and communities are scheduled to take place in twelve cities across the country. On the first day, Statistics Canada will share information with local police on key topics such as hate crime identification, standardized police reporting through the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, and resources.

During the second day of the workshops, led by the CRRF, participants will have the opportunity to network with community organizations to address hate and engage in open dialogue with law enforce-

ment. The workshops have been designed to support communities and prepare policing services in identifying hate crimes.

Kamal Khera, Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, stated: "Our government takes a stand against rising hate crimes. That's why we are proud to support initiatives such as this first nationwide training series on hate crimes which will bring communities together and build bridges with law enforcement. This isn't just about fighting hate; it's about safeguarding our values and creating a future where every Canadian feels secure and respected. Workshop by workshop, we’re building a more resilient, inclusive, and fairer country for all.”

The initiative was also welcomed by Mohammed

Vroom! Vroom! Get ready to win!

by Jane Adams

Dundas Manor residents will get the keys to their new home with lots of dining room space.

It's a win-win!

The WDMH Foundation is pleased to announce the Raise the Roof Lottery in support of the new Dundas Manor Long-Term Care Home. Join in the fun and you could be driving away in a 2024 Jeep Wrangler, all the way to your local Foodland to spend thousands of dollars in grocery gift cards!

"Help dreams come true and buy your tickets today!" says WDMH Foundation Managing Director, Kristen Casselman. "This is the most ambitious lottery we have ever launched and we hope everyone will get involved to help build a new long-term care home for our community. Current and future Dundas Manor residents deserve nothing less."

Tickets are $30 each, 5 tickets for $100, or 25 tickets for $250. Only 200 people can purchase the big bundle

Hashim, CEO of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation: “The CRRF has been and continues to be actively engaged in preventing and addressing hate crimes in Canada. These workshops are an important extension of this work to understand the systemic challenges and gaps in addressing hate crimes and incidents in Canada, and connecting people with crucial, community-informed tools and resources.”

“As Co-chair of the Hate Crimes Task Force, the RCMP is proud to support the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and Statistics Canada as they launch this important initiative”, said Alison Whelan, Hate Crimes Task Force Co-Chair, Senior ADM, Reform, Accountability and Culture, RCMP. “The training workshops announced today will complement the work already underway by the Task Force to provide local and provincial policing partners with the tools, resources and training to better respond to hate crimes and incidents.”

of 25 tickets, so get yours early!

And even better! The lottery includes three early bird prizes in May, July, and September for $2,500, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

You can also add a 50/50 option with 3 tickets for $5, 10 for $10, 60 for $30, or 200 for $70. The guaranteed winner is $9,995 but it could be much more!

The final draw takes place on September 30. To get your tickets, visit www. wdmhfoundationraffles.ca. Tickets are only available online.

"When you play the WDMH Foundation's Raise the Roof lottery, you are changing the lives of many people," sums up Kristen. "You are helping to give Dundas Manor residents more privacy, add 30 more beds to the home, keep families together who are living apart, give every resident a window, add more dining space, just to name a few benefits! Thanks for your support and good luck!" For more details about the Dundas Manor campaign, please visit or contact the WDMH Foundation team at 613-774-2422 ext. 6169.