Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News April 2020

A.C. Towing 613-284-3465 24/7 Service

Owned & Operated By:

Local & Long Distance Lockouts Boosts Ogilvie's Telephone: 613-283-7444

Vol. 7

No. 4

YOUR INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER - LANARK, NORTH LEEDS & GRENVILLE

APRIL 2020

Local distilleries helping fight coronavirus Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca “It was a no-brainer,” explained Dairy Distillery’s chief Omid McDonald when asked by Hometown News why he decided to shift 100% of his Almonte plant’s production to making sanitizer.

“When hospitals ask for help, you simply answer, how much do you need?” During the week of March 16 both Dairy Distillery (the makers of the legendary Vodkow clear spirits) and Perth’s Top Shelf Distillery started focusing their expertise and equipment to make hand sanitizer in both bulk and personal use sizes for healthcare facilities and front-line workers in the fight against COVID-19. The key ingredient in this type of sanitizer is alcohol.

Stuart Thornley from Top Shelf said they first heard of the idea from distillers in Europe where things have already progressed much farther in terms of numbers of victims and strains on healthcare facilities. From there it was

just a simple matter of obtaining the other raw ingredients needed to turn distilled alcohol into hand sanitizer. Both businesses will be donating and selling this much needed product with unit pricing designed to recoup costs only.

Facilities such as hospitals and grocery stores that have budgets for in-house use of sanitizer will purchase while Top Shelf started a crowdfunding campaign to raise

dollars to facilitate donations and quickly reached their $10K goal.

Both distilleries are shining examples of community spirit and generosity. Dairy Distillery has kept a $10K bottle shipment of Vodcow destined for LCBO shelves to redistill it for sanitizer production.

To learn more, check out both distillers’ websites at topshelfdistillers.com and dairydistillery.com

Photo credit: Brian Turner.

Photo credit: Brian Turner.

Stewart Park Festival cancelled July 2020

Photo credit: Submitted.

Perth - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and associated social distancing measures instituted by the federal and provincial governments, Stewart Park Festival has been cancelled for the mid-July weekend.

FIND US ONLINE

Festival Chair Delores MacAdam says the decision to cancel at this point was difficult.

“After much consideration, we’ve made the heart-breaking decision to cancel the Stewart Park Festival for 2020,” says MacAdam.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic

Facebook/HometownnewsPerth

and the associated health risks and social distancing measures currently in place, we are fulfilling our responsibility to continue to help flatten the curve.”

The music festival, which takes place in Stewart Park in downtown Perth, Ontario, attracts more than 20,000 attendees each year. Slated for July 1719, 2020, the festival was set to celebrate its 29th year.

“We’re disappointed to have to make this tough yet necessary decision,” says MacAdam. “One month ago, we weren’t even considering a cancellation. But the pandemic’s reach across Canada is enough reason to take a step back this summer.”

The Festival committee members were all asked for their insight. MacAdam later spoke to many festival organizers both in Ontario and around the globe to ensure the festival organizers were not making a decision without solid and well-researched information.

MacAdam adds the sponsorship team didn’t feel comfortable

Facebook/HometownnewsCarletonPlace

asking businesses for funding at a time when layoffs and closures are occurring – a concept she completely supports.

“Not only are we working to support the social distancing measures to help reduce the spread, we’re also considering the businesses who sponsor us each year,” says MacAdam. “We’re a small community and while the Festival is such a beloved annual tradition, we are respecting the needed measures to protect both our health and economy. This is the time to support our local businesses in different ways.”

The committee will take the next few days to reach out to notify sponsors, volunteers and musicians slated to support the Festival weekend.

Perth Mayor John Fenik commends the Stewart Park Festival team for their dedication.

“While cancelling the Stewart Park Festival was a difficult decision, I want to thank the Festival organizers for making the right decision,” says Fenik. “I look forward to a time when the Festival

returns: it will be a time when we can all gather and celebrate music, art, food and being together as a community. I am confident upon its return, the Stewart Park Festival will be better than ever.”

Future event plans still in the works Though the July weekend has been cancelled, MacAdam says the SPF team has not ruled out a future event date.

“We still want to honour and celebrate the spirit of Stewart Park Festival, which is to ultimately bring people together through music,” says MacAdam, adding that a one or two day gathering in the fall, or later in the year, is a possibility. “The Festival may look different this year, but we'll continue to remain committed and work toward living out the 29-year-long tradition later in the year.”

To learn more about the Stewart Park Festival, please visit www.stewartparkfestival.com . Please keep up to date by following the Stewart Park Festival Facebook page.

Facebook/HometownnewsSmithsFalls

www.Hometownnews.ca

PLANNING FOR A SPRING RENOVATION PROJECT? Groceries Produce Fresh Flowers

Fresh Deli Fresh Fish

WE OFFER FULL "CONCEPT-TO-COMPLETION" SERVICES INCLUDING DESIGN, DRAWINGS & BUILD

Bakery Salad Bar Butcher’s Counter

613-284-9826

Polcandesigngroup.ca

WE ARE A FULLSERVICE GENERAL CONTRACTOR

2

April 2020

Page Two

When the world stops turning Regional - Brian Turner editorial@pdgmedia.ca Well of course it hasn’t but can certainly seem that way for many of us.

Our globe’s latest pandemic has driven certain media sources into overdrive and for anyone, it’s certainly easy to be overwhelmed. We can save the ‘what’s worse, COVID-19 or the panic?’ for another discussion. It can be especially frustrating to adapt to the new limitations on our daily routines when we have for the most part, lived in a region relatively unscathed by the risks of this disease. But adapt we have, like generations before us when faced with their own catastrophes.

We listen to the experts and authorities and follow their guidance.

Everyone has gotten the message and is keenly aware that there is a significant portion of the population that’s at risk of hospitalization and even death.

As Fred Rogers is so

well known to have said, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” He used this phrase to help young children deal with large disasters and tragedies of epic scale, giving them a focus on the more positive side of a sometimes dark and disturbing coin. Perhaps we should adapt this lesson in our own lives and take it a step further by becoming the helpers. It’s already happening. Countless volunteers have fanned out assisting those in self-isolation.

Social media groups are starting ‘care-mongering’ groups to seek out and provide some comfort and daily supplies to those at risk and in fear. Those who can’t attend school or work are contacting neighbours and relatives to check in on them. People are creating care packages for donation. Shoppers are adjusting to new business hours that permit the elderly and those with other health challenges

to have some exclusive opportunities to obtain groceries and other necessities without the crowds that make some feel very unsafe.

Keeping your neighbours in mind also includes local businesses.

Some have made the very painful decision to lay off loyal staff or close altogether. Some of these cases are a result of government orders, some due to staff becoming sick, and some because the lack of traffic and revenue provided no other options. Do your best to support our store neighbours whenever it can be done safely.

Some good news has landed. Wuhan, China, the acknowledged epicenter of COVID-19 recently reported its first day with no new cases. While that is cause for hope, remember it took them 2 months to get to this milestone and they’re not planning on dropping any of their health and safety measures yet.

Social distancing in 1860!

Photo courtesy of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum

opinion: Am I the only one?

Carrie Wynne

Ready… Set… NO

PART OF THE DISCOVER COMMUNTIY NETWORK

Hometownnews

Cartoon by Patrick Labelle

Publisher

Photography

Patricia Krotki pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

Kathy Botham Chis Uhlig

Editorial

Sales & Advertising

editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Reporters Kathy Botham Sally Smith Chris Must Janelle Labelle Brian Turner Emilie Must John Kessel

advertising@pdgmedia.ca

Submissions editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Submit an Event events@pdgmedia.ca

Contact 613-284-9826 hometownnews@pdgmedia.ca

The green rush is on while Ontario is busy reinventing the wheel. Alberta has 400 Cannabis stores while Ontario loses $42 million setting up a website and making stickers.

A short drive down the road you can purchase cannabis in creams, soaps, gels and bath bombs. They sell cookies, chocolate, candy and tea. The CBD oil is priced competitively in a range of different products and strengths. You can purchase a plant if you like gardening. They have a points card. Mondays and Wednesdays are senior discount days. The store collects cans of food for the community

and offer discounts for donations. The store is heated with solar panels. They have fish and chips right on site with umbrella picnic tables to enjoy a nice lunch.

People come from all over to explore the novelty of a pot shop while product experts happily answer questions to help you choose the right product. Customers are lined up out the door almost every day. The longer hours on Fridays and Saturdays accommodate commuters. A recently paved parking lot and lounge furniture signals prosperity.

They have a big happy welcome sign out front, “Open for Business” and they have been since pot was legalized 16 months ago.

Meanwhile back at the wheel house Ontario cripples the entrepreneurial spirit with layers upon layers of bureaucratic nonsense as small businesses are left

dealing with restrictive procedures and elaborate schemes dictated by public sector hacks who, as my Dad used to say, couldn’t sell steak to hungry millionaires.

Legalized cannabis has the potential to disrupt the alcohol, pharmaceutical and tobacco industries worldwide and timing is critical for market viability. If Ontario conservatives want to support communities and small businesses, they will need to play catch up or stay closed for business. Several Toronto municipalities voted to ban cannabis stores but just recently gave a thumbs up. Maybe that will get the Doug Ford businessman rolling again.

Am I the Only One? The opinions stated in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hometown News’ management, staff or writers.

3

April 2020

community Carleton Place Mayor addresses community regarding COVID-19 Carleton Place - Submitted editorial@pdgmedia.ca To the Carleton Place Community On behalf of Council I would like to take this opportunity, first and foremost, to offer a sincere thank you to everyone for the cooperation we have recently witnessed throughout our community. As we have proven many times throughout the years, the way we continue to pull together and look out for one

another during a crisis is beyond heart-warming.

Council and Town Staff are doing our best to be proactive and responsible when implementing policies and procedures that will allow us to manage the services we provide while protecting those within our community.

There is no debate we are in a difficult situation; one we will continue to endure as this virus continues to upset the apple cart that has served us all

so well for so long.

We all know Canada is the best country to live in and I believe we will see our healthcare industry continue to deliver the quality of care we have learned to expect. I have the utmost respect and appreciation for all our frontline health workers and all those involved in the significant task ahead.

Equally, it is important to recognize the many other front-line workers in our community; the cashiers

Message from Mayor Shawn Pankow on COVID-19 Since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic two weeks ago, a lot has changed. We have all had to make tough decisions about what it means for our families and friends, our education, our jobs, our businesses, and our community.

While we all share real concerns, we also share the responsibility of keeping ourselves, our families, friends and community safe. Now is the time to act on the advice of health experts.

Here in Smiths Falls, we are working on the guidance of Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health for Leeds, Grenville and Lanark. We must all act as if we could be infected and risk infecting others, and as if others are infected and could infect us. It is not uncommon for carriers to show no, or mild symptoms. Work from home if you can, and self isolate if you have returned from international travel. If you need to leave home, sanitize or wash your hands when entering and exiting buildings, avoid long lineups, and keep a distance of two metres from others. For those working in essential positions who continue to report to work – thank you. We appreciate the work you are doing to help support the community during this critical time.

The coming weeks will be difficult for all of us, and may be more difficult for the elderly and people living with health challenges. If you can, please check in (over the phone preferably) on others who may become more socially isolated or may not have the ability to pick up groceries, prescriptions, etc. Reach out to your local businesses as well, and support them however you can.

Smiths Falls is a community with heart and resilience. We have overcome challenges before, and we will do it again. Economic, financial and social supports are coming at the federal and provincial level, and we are taking steps here in Smiths Falls to try and ease the burden.

Shawn Pankow, Mayor of Smiths Falls

and stock clerks at our grocery stores, the restaurants offering take-out, volunteers at the food bank and all essential service workers. We as a community will double down in our commitment to ensure your health and the health of your families.

Which brings me to our obligation to each other.

An obligation to act in cooperation and with kindness. To ensure we adhere to the provincial guidelines and protocols provided by healthcare professionals regarding physical distancing. Let’s take advantage of our geography and smalltown densities as well as our capacity to care for our neighbours and help

shut down this virus in our community.

Please take the opportunity to view our daily updates prepared by our Chief Administrative Officer Diane Smithson and Director of Protective Services Pascal Meunier. These updates contain recent, upto-date information related to the pandemic from all levels of government and medical professionals. They are posted on our website, social media channels and available via a sign-up to our newsletter CP Scoop on our website: www.carletonplace.ca then click on Town and then Municipal Communications.

In addition, County Council senior staff are

keeping all councillors up to speed in addressing their responsibilities such as Social Services, Ontario Works, Housing, Children Services and Development Support Services. Please see www.LanarkCounty.ca for further information.

It is my observation that a great sense of cooperation exists amongst all levels of government.

I want our residents and businesses to know this cooperation will continue to grow as we work together to flatten the curve.

As Premier Ford stated Monday, “We are all in this together” and isn’t that the truth?

Sincerely.

Mayor Black

Celebrating 20 years of Serving Our Community

Keep Calm and Trust Your Chiropractor

On Site Digital X-ray Registered Massage Therapy Advanced Health Analysis Surface Electromyography Thermography Heart Rate Variability Analysis THERALASE Low Level Laser for Muscle, Tendon and Joint Healing

Kingston artist selected to do a mural at the Rideau Ferry

Goudreau’s mural of Gord Downie. Photo credit: Submitted.

Regional - John Kessel editorial@pdgmedia.ca Shane Goudreau, he could be world-famous soon.

Shane Goudreau, the Kingston artist selected to do a mural at the Rideau Ferry bridge this summer, is vying for a Guinness World Record soon, maybe even before the scheduled finish of the mural.

Known in Kingston for his murals of Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip and for his depiction of Canada’s 150th anniversary, the artist recently visited Rideau Ferry.

This is the site of his next masterpiece – a depiction of Rideau Ferry History, before the Europeans came to this hamlet – a quiet place in the winter and a booming cottage, fishing and boating destination in the summer along the Rideau Canal, declared a World Heritage Site in 2007.

Goudreau, 41, is a selftaught artist who has

ventured from painting motorcycle and hockey helmets to what could soon be declared by the Guinness World Record as the largest indoor mural in the world, almost 20,000 square feet. He still has to get Guinness to the site of Zaxx Bar and Grill in Kingston to measure the mural he’s been working on for about 10 years.

It’s about twice as large as the current record-holder which was painted in India by five artists.

He has now painted murals in Canada as far away as British Columbia and in Europe has worked in Germany, France and Spain.

Though he has no final plans for the bridge mural, he is certain he’ll meet all the Drummond/ North Elmsley requirements – including the Rideau Canal’s history, Algonquin residence, the Rideau Ferry Regatta, and acknowledgement of the Perth military settlement. He says he’ll be

consulting with historians, the township elderly, and various books.

“It was a helluva grind the first few years, but I’m having fun right now,” says Goudreau.

The $42,000 project, supported by a grant, is expected to be finished in September.

Shane’s favourite artistic encounter occurred when he was finishing a mural at the Wolfe Island Inn. He heard a familiar voice only to turn around and face Don Cherry admiring his work. The two sat down for a beer later and Cherry gave him some advice.

Apparently the management of the Hip didn’t like Goudreau’s portrayal of Gord Downie ---half white half native – which he painted to honour the singer for what he had done to commemorate the tragedy of residential schools.

Cherry told him not to worry about the issue. He didn’t. “I idolized the Hip. I am also a hockey junkie.”

4

April 2020

lifestyle Will work for toilet paper

Rideau Ferry senior Lynda Edwards. Photo Credit: John Kessel

Regional - John Kessel editorial@pdgmedia.ca Yeah, it’s a sign on the Brockville highway. It’s become almost an in joke, neighbours talking to neighbours, relatives just returning from shopping and being asked, “are the toilet paper shelves still empty?”

Lynda Edwards, a Rideau Ferry senior found the shelves empty at Walmart, but when she got in line to pay for the rest of her gro-

cery purchases, there was a young couple with an infant in front of her and a big package of TP in their cart.

She asked where they got it and was told it was the last package, but when the couple finished paying, they divided the package in half, ”a random act of kindness,” Ms Edwards says. She got her TP free.

The half package was divided again when Ms. Edwards shared some with a neighbour.

There are a few stories like that in Rideau Ferry.

Erin van Pelt, owner of CCs on the Rideau, a popular local restaurant, got a deferral of her monthly rent shortly after being ordered to shut down by the health department. She is now serving only takeout.

The restaurant had only just reopened after its regular winter shut down and even had to cancel its St. Patrick’s day party.

She says one of her regular patrons always waited on by the same server told her that if the woman

needed help he was willing to pitch in. The server had been laid off.

Jimmy Katsoulis, who runs Jimmy’s Snack Shack in Rideau Ferry has told regulars who are in self quarantine, “you just have to drive up and open your trunk.” He drops their food order into the trunk, saying “we’ll settle up later, when this is over.

“It’s something I can do, a payback for their loyalty,” Katsoulis says.

Another resident in quarantine after returning from India has neighbours delivering groceries and even a newspaper. They had enough TP.

Crisis impacting access to mental health services Regional - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Access to mental health services was difficult before, but now due to the COVID-19 pandemic it’s impossible. The constant stream of bad news from around the

Online ordering now available THEPICKLEDPIG.SQUARE.SITE

WATCH FOR OUR NEW MOBILE APP COMING THIS WEEK FOR APPLE & ANDROID

world can quickly exacerbate an already hopeless situation.

Anxiety is at an all time high when almost every aspect of the future is unknown. The state of emergency in Ontario, originally put in place with an end date of March 31, has been extended to April 13.

The week before the country went into lockdown I had my first counselling session after waiting more than a year. The session, though only an hour in length, was the most productive conversation I’d had about my mental health since returning to Smiths Falls after graduating from university. I didn’t know the severity of the lack of mental health resources in Lanark County until I was forced by circumstance to return to my parents’ house.

What I quickly discovered was appalling: wait times of one to two years from getting on the waiting list to actually booking a counselling appointment.

Last month the Ford government announced a new mental health “solution” called Mindability. At first glance it seems like a step forward for depression and

anxiety sufferers in Ontario.

However, on closer inspection, the $20 million promised by the provincial government for mental health services was only a small fraction of the $300 million promised by the previous Liberal government.

One thing we know for sure is that Mindability won’t be able to help with complex issues like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Reaching out when you’re in the midst of a depressive episode is one of the hardest things to do. Advocating for yourself and almost demanding attention from the professionals who are supposed to help is a daunting but necessary task. Textbased counselling apps are not the solution.

Another important aspect of counselling and any therapeutic relationship is how you feel about the person giving you care. Building a rapport with a mental health worker over a long period of time based on mutual trust and understanding is the key to breaking out of negative cycles or ways of thinking.

What’s funny is that when your medication stops

working, you’re almost always the last to know. I realized my antidepressants stopped working when I started having more frequent panic attacks, extreme anxiety and uncontrollable anger.

When life returns to “normal” mental health services will open up again. Lanark Mental Health offers more than 10 services including crisis support, individual and group counselling, geriatric psychiatry services and even a hoarding program.

Lanark Mental Health has many different resources for people of all ages struggling with their mental health.

There are also many mental health groups to join, each focusing on a different aspect of recovery. Some of these include “You’re braver than you think,” an eightweek group for people with extreme anxiety, ReThink Depression, Healthy Attachments and Youth Skills & Support group for youth aged 17-24.

Nobody knows how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last.

For now all we can do is wait out the storm.

For truly local updates on the COVID-19 outbreak

For Your Information with Kathy Botham

5

April 2020

Mental Health Series Health Matters

Dr. Frazer Smith

MANAGING STRESS IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC Stress! It seems like it is affecting everyone these days particularly in light of the measures being implemented to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. I myself experienced some dark moments when the brutal reality of shutting down my office, laying off staff and cutting off patients from care hit me square in the jaw. Thank goodness that I teach stress management techniques regularly to my clients and once I started to “practice what I preach” I was able to calm myself down and actually see some of the blessings in social distancing practices.

What? There are blessings in this? Yes, there are if you look for them, but more on that later.

In my professional work I am constantly teaching about the impact of stress on our overall physiological health. Generally, there are three primary areas of stress that you may experience; Physical, Chemical, and Mental/Emotional. Physical stresses can be connected to poor posture, prolonged sitting, repetitive motions, over exerting, and even not doing enough physical activity. Chemical stressors can include toxins in our environment, chemical additives in food, drugs, alcohol and even too much sugar or coffee. This article will primarily focus on mental/ emotional stress. It is hard to find anyone these days that has not experienced some mental or emotional stress from our current situation, including myself.

Stress in all forms triggers our innate stress response or “fight or flight” reaction.

This reaction is a genetically programmed survival mechanism that instantly prepares our body to either “fight” or “flee” by shutting down non-essential processes like digestion or immune system and diverting energy toward blood flow and muscle strength. This process works great to improve your eye-

sight, sharpen your reflexes and reaction times when the deer suddenly jumps in front of your car. However, when we have more chronic and regular stress it can cause a host of problems like anxiety, anger, depression, frustration, poor sleep, body aches, stomach problems, forgetfulness, poor immune function, and lots more.

Given that we are all likely experiencing some chronic stress right now let’s focus on what we can do to reduce the stress while we physically isolate ourselves. Here are some key tips to practice regularly to reduce the physiological effects of stress and help you think and feel better.

1. Start meditating daily taking time for deep slow breathing.

I hear tons of objections from people about how they can’t shut their brain off.

The truth is that the average person has a new thought roughly every 4 seconds. So, when you meditate you will have a new thought every 4 seconds! The art of meditation is to be aware that you are having a thought and that you are not necessarily your thought.

I recommend people unfamiliar with mindfulness meditation start with an ‘app’ that they can download that will help them understand the basics. It is often helpful to start with guided meditation to get you more comfortable with the practice.

Common apps I recommend are Insight Timer, Headspace, Calm, and Mindfulness Coach.

2. Start a gratitude journal It’s nearly impossible to be grateful and anxious at the same time. Try it. Spend a moment to concentrate on a few things you are truly grateful to have in your life. This could be simple things like warmer weather, clean water to drink, or it could be a pet or an important person in your life like a spouse or child.

3. Daily exercise Exercise is one of the most beneficial things we can do for our physical and mental health. Regular exercise clears the mind, improves cardiovascular function, and stimulates the body. Many studies show that the benefits of exercise can be easily obtained through activities such as walking for as little as 30 minutes. Wherever you are at, start slow and build unless you have a known medical condition that limits you. There are a lot of local fitness instructors providing online classes right now!

4. Get fresh air and sunlight daily There are no doubts about the benefits of time outside.

A report published in 2018 revealed that exposure to greenspace reduced the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure.

With screen time use at an all-time high it is essential that we commit to getting outside more often. Combine this with your walk and cross two items of the list!

5. Avoid sugar, non-prescription drugs and alcohol These things all have a negative impact on our body’s ability to regulate itself and in most cases will actually increase your body’s stress hormones. Many people use substances to “relieve stress” when in fact they often create the opposite effect physiologically. The bottom line is if you are actually feeling stressed then it’s best to avoid these.

6. Get adequate sleep Sleep is how we recharge our brain. Can you recall a time when you were worried about something and woke up the next day wondering why you were so worried?

Sleep resets your ability to think rationally. If you are overtired you will not be able to think objectively and you will be more susceptible to whatever stresses you.

According to the Nation-

al Sleep Foundation, most adults require 7 - 9 hours of sleep to function optimally while school aged kids (6-13) require 9 – 11 hours.

Also, sleep schedule matters, so if you are at home staying up late binging on Netflix it is bound to affect your sleep quality. Try to stick to your normal habits or take advantage like I have and get more sleep than normal.

7. Stay Productive.

Many people I have talked to are feeling housebound.

With additional time on my hands I have found that my productivity has dropped.

Take advantage of the additional time you may have and make a list of your highest priority tasks. These can include odd jobs that you have been putting off or they could also include some new innovative creative work that you have always wanted to do. Whatever those high priority things are, sit down each morning and plan your day allotting time toward accomplishing those high priorities. A mentor of mine always says that if you don’t fill your time with high value activities then it will automatically fill up with low value

ones. There is nothing better for the psyche than a sense of accomplishment. Cross off those high value actions when you complete them to anchor positive emotions.

8. Reduce your time reading negative media.

Enough said? There is so much media attention toward the current state of affairs that you could easily give yourself a panic attack by 8am. If you feel emotionally drained by reading the news, work on distancing yourself from it. Look for one or two reliable and trustworthy sources to monitor and avoid everything else. DO NOT READ THE NEWS BEFORE BED! 9. Write out the blessings and opportunities that come out of times like these.

Start a list and keep adding to this. Everything has a balance and even crisis like COVID-19 will create many opportunities. I see the blessing in the opportunity to spend more time with my loved ones, to get more regular sleep, to be less “busy”, to work on projects that I have been putting off, to spend more time being creative.

Looking beyond myself, I

know that with every crisis comes opportunity for good and I know that the level of innovation and creation that is happening currently will result in new products, inventions and things that will improve our planet and humanity. By no means does this minimize some of the major challenges that people are facing during this crisis.

Rather, it helps to gain perspective that there are positives that will come from this in many forms. If you are stuck on the negatives it will consume you. Shift your perspective by writing as many positives as you can think of until you feel more “balanced” and see both the good and bad.

This exercise can be a game changer for some people.

Try any or all of these tips to help you navigate stressful times in your life.

Dr. Frazer Smith is a coach/consultant and has practiced as a chiropractor in Smiths Falls for 23 years.

Protect Yourself Yourself Protect COVID-19 & Those Those Around Around You You COVID-19 & All the Health Unit offices and service sites are closed to the walk-in public All the Health Unit offices and service sites are closed to the walk-in public

We are providing essential services only.

We are providing essential services only.

Check our website for all services that may be postponed during the Check our website for all services that may be postponed during the COVID-19 response. https://healthunit.org/service-changes/ COVID-19 response. https://healthunit.org/service-changes/

The 1-800-660-5853 line will be answered The 1-800-660-5853 line will be answered 7 days a week from 8:30am to 4:30pm 7 days a week from 8:30am to 4:30pm

2m 2m

Stay home Stay whenhome sick and when sickasand as much as much as possible when possible when well well

Avoid close Avoid close contact with contact people -with keep at people - keep at least 6 ft/2m least away6 ft/2m away Wash your hands Wash often your and hands often and thoroughly with thoroughly with soap and warm soap and warm water water

Work from home, Work from home, conduct meetings conduct meetings virtually virtually

Clean and Clean and disinfect disinfect frequently frequently touched objects touched objects and surfaces and surfaces

Cover your Cover coughyour or cough sneezeor sneeze

Avoid Avoid touching your touching eyes, noseyour & eyes, nose & mouth mouth

Use alcohol Use alcohol based hand based hand sanitizer with at sanitizer least 60%with at least 60% alcohol alcohol

Visit www.healthunit.org Visit www.healthunit.org or call 1-800-660-5853 or call 1-800-660-5853

LGLhealthunit LGLhealthunit

2M

6 FT

7

April 2020

culture Perth Inside Out:

Terry O'Hearn

Military Presence in Perth at an All-time Low

On the left Chris Gilbertson is shown with Stacey Niceliu in front of the Lanark & Renfrew display at the Hall of Remembrance military museum located at the Perth Legion. Photo credit: Submitted.

From its beginnings as a British-influenced military town in 1816, Perth citizens continued to march through two World Wars with the 42nd Field Artillery Regiment and its various incarnations. Many area residents served, so the ties between the regiment and the town were strong.

Then came the top-secret military base during the cold war, located in the former Drummond Township. Richardson Detachment of CFB Carp was opened in 1962, and many of our population worked there until 1994.

Although there is no official military presence here now, two members of the 42nd Pipe Band carry on to remind us of our strong connection to the 42nd Regiment. The band is known as the 42nd Pipe Band, and consists of Stacey Niceliu and Chris Gilbertson. Although it is not officially attached to any military unit, it is a descendant of the old 42nd Pipe & Drum Band.

Those band members practice diligently at the Perth Legion weekly, so if you are going by the Beckwith Street facility and hear the bagpipes wailing, please give a salute towards the upstairs level in honour of the 42nd.

Even though the band members are not officially attached to the 42nd, Niceliu served from 1991 to 1993, and is currently a member of the Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Regiment Association. He has been in the band since 1991, when he came to Perth from the Argyll and Sutherland

Highlanders of Hamilton.

Much of the history of the regiment was gleaned from the association website at www.highlandgunner.ca/, and the following is a brief history of one of the oldest Canadian regiments, which began as the 42nd Brockville Battalion of Infantry on Oct. 5, 1866 in Brockville, with companies also in Almonte, Perth, Fitzroy, Lansdowne, and Smiths Falls. In 1870, the Battalion took part in the Fenian Raids and the Red River Expedition, and in 1871 the Pembroke Infantry Company became the Battalion’s seventh Company.

They were designated in 1987 as the 42nd Lanark and Renfrew Battalion of Infantry, and became the 42nd Lanark and Renfrew Regiment on May 8, 1900. That 42nd designation stuck until March 12, 1920, when the unit became The Lanark and Renfrew Regiment: 1st Battalion (130th Battalion CEF) and 2nd Reserve Battalion (240th Battalion CEF), and then in 1927 The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment.

The regiment mobilized after the start of World War II in 1939 and later was divided into two battalions, with the 1st Battalion put into active service as home defence on both coasts, until disbanded in October of 1943.

In July 1944, the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Italy was reorganized, and became the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Infantry Battalion. On Nov. 11, 1944, it was re-designated as The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment, and went on to serve in Italy and France. In 1945 it was converted back to Artillery and became the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish).

April 1, 1946, saw another conversion to air defence artillery, and they were designated as the 59th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA. The regiment returned to its infantry roots on Dec.

1, 1959, and was designated as The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment.

The name changes kept coming, and in 1992 the regiment converted to artillery air defence, and was designated as the 1st Air Defence Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA. Then in 2006, it was converted back to field artillery and became 42nd Field Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA. According to Niceliu the regiment has a strength today of approximately 70 men and a few artillery pieces.

If all this sounds complicated, well, it is. To fully understand the structure of the Canadian Army, past and present, you would have to live the life, either as a member or historian.

The armouries for the regiment in Perth for the period of 1935 to 1965 was the building which is now the Asbury Free Methodist Church, located on Gore St. near Craig. It should be noted here that an armouries refers to a single building, and is a place where militia units meet to conduct their training. This usage of the word is uniquely Canadian. An armoury, on the other hand, is a place where weapons are stored, and two or more such places are armouries. Simple enough, right?

Perth War veteran Eric Devlin was Drum Major of the Lanark & Renfrew Scottish Pipes and Drums in 1992 and 1993, when the band was associated with the 1st Air Defence Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish), RCA. Other local connections were: CWO Ernest Joseph Hall, MMM, MSM, CD, of Lanark, who served as Regimental Sergeant Major from 2011 to 2013, and Perth’s Brian Noonan, who was Colonel of the Regiment from 1969 to 1971 with the rank of Lt-Col. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at: terry@pdgmedia.ca

Mississippi Mills Textile Museum turns 35 in 2020 Regional - Emilie Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca

The Mississippi Mills Textile Museum is celebrating its 35th birthday this year. The museum’s curator and Executive Director Michael Rikley-Lancaster gave an exclusive interview to the Hometown News on the many ways they’re celebrating.

The museum located at 3 Rosamond St. E. overlooks the Mississippi River at the edge of downtown Almonte.

It was originally one of seven textile mills in town. This particular woollen mill was owned by the Rosamond family for four generations.

The textile industry was such a large part of Canada’s economy that Hudson’s Bay even had shares in the company.

“At its absolute peak of production they had over 300 employees in this mill alone let alone the other six mills in town,” Rikley-Lancaster said.

“All of that was based on the natural waterpower that goes through town. The natural waterfalls and the utilization of that powered the mills.”

This summer, footprints will be placed across town so visitors can walk the exact route mill workers took to get to the mill.

Rikley-Lancaster made the surprise announcement that Almonte will be hosting its first annual Pride

week from June 7 to 13.

“What we’re doing is empowering the youth to know it’s okay to be who you are so they don’t feel ashamed so we can hold off on any suicides or prevention that way,” he said.

The rainbow flag hanging outside the museum signifies it as a safe space in town.

“It’s very easy to feel isolated because you don’t have maybe as many allies as you think. But by doing an event like this you realize how many allies you have and how many people are open even in rural communities.”

“I think this event helps all these smaller communities realize that they are progressive and they are welcoming and inclusive and it ensures that we don’t have any negative things happen. Whether people have different beliefs or not I think it’s just a positive event and it’s not meant to be political; it’s just positivity, inclusive and happy.”

Another exciting event planned for summer of 2020 is an exhibition by Toronto-based artist Kai Chan.

“I’ve been trying to get him to come for 15 years.”

Chan visited the museum in 2014 and vowed to return for his own showcase.

“We had an exhibition in 2014 from Japan it was called Rico Sudo Anuno and it was an exhibition where we celebrated her textile designs and we wrapped all the pillars

in the gallery with her textiles,” Rikley-Lancaster said. “(Chan) came to that opening and right away fell in love with the space and said can he exhibit here and we were over the moon.”

This year also marks 25 years of Fibre Fest, an event hosted by the museum the weekend after Labour Day. In January the museum launched an award for textile artists aged 50 and up.

The first floor is rotating exhibition space showcasing contemporary art exhibitions to celebrate the heritage of the woollen textile industry in Almonte. The second floor has the history exhibit, “Fabric of a Small Town” that takes visitors step-by-step through the process of making textiles.

Every Wednesday local weavers can come and work on the museum’s collection of looms.

Local craftspeople and artisans have their work for sale in the gift shop.

The museum is open for events and members of the public can book space on the second floor for $25 an hour. There is even a triple sink great for doing textile-dyeing workshops.

The museum has activities for all ages and admission is free for children under 12. Regular admission is $7, but it is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Mississippi Mills Textile Museum on 3 Rosamond St. E. I Almonte is not only a museum, but a safe space for LGBT folks and allies. Photo credit: Emilie Must.

8

April 2020

Tax Time business

COVID-19 tax changes for individuals and businesses

the marketplace directory

Regional - Robbie Wood, CPA editorial@pdgmedia.ca

Advertise Here - $45 per issue. For more information call 613-206-0708 or email us at advertising@pdgmedia.ca

Canada’s federal and provincial governments are taking action to help individuals and businesses that are facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. A new set of economic measures were announced to help stabilize the economy during this challenging period.

Government of Canada Canada's COVID-19 economic response plan https://www.canada.ca/en/ department-finance/economic-response-plan.html Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Tax Filing Important changes to tax-filing and payment deadlines https://www. canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/ covid-19-update.html The CRA announced that the filing due date for 2019 tax returns will be deferred. See updated filing schedule below: • Individuals - June 1, 2020 • Trusts having a taxation year ending on December 31, 2019 - May 1, 2020 • Partnership returns May 1, 2020 • All charities with a return due between March 18, 2020 and December 31, 2020 December 31, 2020 CRA payment extensions All taxpayers (including corporations, trusts and self-employed individuals) will be allowed to defer the payment of any income tax

amounts due after March 18, 2020 and before September 1, 2020 to the new deadline of September 1, 2020. This relief will apply to tax balances due, as well as instalments, under Part I of the Income Tax Act. In addition, Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax (GST/HST) remittances and customs duty payments are deferred to June 30, 2020. No interest or penalties will accumulate on these amounts during this period.

Economic plans The Government of Canada has introduced a stimulus package to provide support to workers and businesses. Some of the initiatives are temporary income support

for certain groups, increase in the Goods and Services Tax credit and annual Canada Child Benefit payments, longer-term income support for workers, wage subsidies for businesses and ensuring businesses have access to credit.

Other tax related News No post-assessment GST/HST or Income Tax audits of small or medium businesses will be initiated by the CRA until mid-April. The CRA will temporarily suspend audit interaction with taxpayers and representatives for the vast majority of businesses.

Government of Ontario Ontario's Action Plan https://budget.ontario. ca/2020/marchupdate

BRIAN RABY & ASSOCIATES INC LICENSED INSOLVENCY TRUSTEE

Free Consultation • Personalized Service Flexible Appointments

613-283-6308 91 Cornelia St. W. Smiths Falls, ON

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PERSONAL TAX RETURNS

10 Beckwith St N. Smiths Falls

CORPORATE TAX RETURNS

613.205.0463

BUSINESS SETUP ASSISTANCE QUICK BOOKS ONLINE

Your answer to small business accounting

SAGE BUSINESS ONLINE

ACCOUNTANT

Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 outlines the government’s $17 billion response to support individuals and businesses through tax credits and deferrals, including: • Temporary increase to the Employer Health Tax exemption; • A five-month interest and penalty free period, from April 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020, for business payments of select provincially administered taxes; and • Deferring property tax payments municipalities make to school boards by 90 days, which in turn will provide municipalities with the flexibility to provide property tax deferrals to residents and businesses.

The Ontario government has also introduced other relief measures including temporary emergency support for people in financial need, job protection for workers, assistance to families for extra costs associated with school and daycare closures, student loan and interest deferrals, and electricity cost reductions.

For professional help with your business needs, contact Robbie Wood Chartered Professional Accountant Professional Corporation at (613) 205-0463 or robbie@ woodcpa.accountant

Locations

Good Design is good business.

Graphic Design, Branding, Web Design, Logos, Marketing

PDG Media

contactus@pdgmedia.ca

613.284.9826 613.206.0708

CARPET CLEANING

DENTURE CLINIC

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

REALTY

DIRECT:

DIRECT:

613.788.7470

613.788.7470

OFFICE:

613.236.5959

FAX:

613.236.1515

EMAIL: elaine.maclean@hallmarkottawa.com WEB: SoldOnHomes.ca

PRINTING

Quick & Friendly Great Quality

PERTH SMITHS FALLS 40 Sunset Blvd 51 Abbott St. N 613-267-1080 613-283-2444 info@impressionprinting.ca

WELCOME WAGON

Affordable Pricing Excellent Customer Service And we are local ~ just like you!