Smiths Falls Hometown News February 2015

25 Ferrara Drive, Smiths Falls

S’

283-2999 Pharmacy • 283-1855

S ANDRE

• Groceries • Produce

• Fresh Flowers • Fresh Deli

• Fresh Fish • Bakery

• Butcher’s Counter • Salad Bar

Andress’ cover banner S.Falls 2010-11 #56048

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Inside This Issue

A TRIBUTE TO LOUIE HART He was the face of the town’s minor hockey community for more than half a century and he will be remembered as a man who is all heart. His name?

Ellwood “Louie” Hart.

CENTRE SPREAD PAGE 10-11

JASON CODE/PHOTO

Community participation in free public skating has been consistently high at the Gerry Lowe Memorial Sens RINK (Recreational Investments in Neighbourhoods for

Council agrees to partial funding for Hub Amy Hogue mation about the Hub Recreation, Arts & Athletic Association’s (Hub) funding status at a special Committee of the Whole (COW) on Monday, Jan. 26, council agreed to protion with one time funding by-law was then approved by council at a special council meeting immediately following the COW meeting. cil was altered from the one agreed to at a COW meeting moval of two conditions previously contained within the tion was that the Hub obtain a 30 day extension from their landlord, the Gallipeau Centre, the intent of which was to to obtain funding commit-

ments from neighbouring municipalities.

Mayor Shawn Pankow exan email from Mrs. Gallipeau there would be no extension line from the Gallipeau Centre, this meant that leaving the condition in the by-law without a chance of it being municipality so they would be unable to provide funding.

Pankow also explained the second condition to obtain funding from neighbouring municipalities became moot from Hub coordinator, Heddy Sorour-Roberts, indicating the Hub now has $8,000 in hand to add to the municipality’s contribution. council the $8,000 came as a result of “money raised, money earned and money given to the Hub.” She went on to note

that the Hub was aware there would be no extension to the Gallipeau Centre’s Jan. 30 deadline and so had no choice but to do whatever they could to keep the doors open.

“We’ll take any money we’ve got from programming and put it towards this bill,” Sorour-Roberts explained, adding that in recent days the Hub has been invited to apply for funding from several organizations, which will assist with expenses for February and March.

Sorour-Roberts also explained for council that the Hub already has an agreement in place with the Gallipeau Centre to repay the past debt owing for utility expenses. arrangement paying $1,500 monthly with a percentage of fundraising revenue given to the Gallipeaus against the Hub’s debt.

“As long as we do this they have guaranteed they will not

shut us down,” Sorour-Roberts stressed.

She also noted that in the original lease between the Hub and Gallipeau Centre, entered into in 2013, it was originally agreed to increase the rent annually. Despite this, Sorour-Roberts explained that once it became clear that the crease, the Gallipeaus froze the rent at the current rate, one she estimates is approximately $1.60 per square foot. ly generously agreed to forgive $75,000 of the roughly $170,000 owed to them for utility costs.

Councillor Dawn Quinn inquired of Sorour-Roberts if the Hub has its own meters for utilities, to which Sorour-Roberts replied that the Hub has its own water, hydro and gas meters.

Community Budget request for new hoses an “emergency”; we have are from 1988,” said Fire Chief Normand Beauchamp.

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lifestyle Smiths Falls Bears are back in full swing.

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culture Read our story on how the Genealogical Society in Smiths Falls helps others connect with their roots.

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FIND US ONLINE WWW. DISCOVERSMITHSFALLS

F ACEBOOK /DISCOVER S MITHS F ALLS T WITTER /DISCOVER _SF

SEE HUB | PAGE 3

. CA

February 2015

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Page Two

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Jan. Dec.31 19 • Fundraiser

Dance and ChristSilent • 2nd Annual Community Auction Ft. Doherty Brothers Band. Smiths Falls Royal CanadiCulture, 6:00 p.m. an Legion. 8:00 p.m. $10 In sup• Holiday Movie Night- Rise port of Crime Stoppers. of the Guardians - Smiths Falls Civitan Club, 7:00 p.m.

• Jewel’s Gently Used Clothing Bag Sale.

18 William St.Clinic E. sations Dental Hygiene will be providing no cost dental hygiene services to those unable to • Santa at the County Fair Mall, sations.com or call 205.0555.

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Feb. 7

Dec. 20

Feb. Dec.12 21

• Santa at the County Fair Mall, 7:30 p.m.

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m • Legion Jamboree - Smiths Falls Canadian Legion Branch 95, 1:00 - 6:30 p.m.

• Movie & Skate - Smiths Falls 7:30 p.m.

Youth Arena, 4:50 - 8:00 p.m.

Feb. 13

Feb. 14 Dec. 22

• Tim Horton’s Free Skate, Youth 7:30 p.m.

Arena, 1:00 p.m.

Feb. Dec. 15 23

• Holly 2:00 p.m.Days Children Workshop.

Heritage House Museum. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

• Tim Horton’s Free Skate, Youth Arena, 1:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Feb. 20

Dec.21 24, 25 & 26 feb.

• Christmas Eve, Christmas Day,

• Tim Horton’s Bowl for Kids Boxing Day :) Sake. Gratton Lanes.

• Beach Boys Tribute – Endless Summer.

Gallipeau • Tim Horton’s FreeCentre Skate, Youth

jan. 2, 2015 Arena, 1:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

jan. 22 5 Feb. • Taoist Tai Chi Open House

Week at the Seniors Activity Cen2:00 p.m. tre, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

ONGOING

pdg media PUBLIC SKATING - $2 per person Youth Arena - Monday - 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday - 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Friday - 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Saturday - 12 - 2:00 p.m.

Community Centre - Monday - Friday - 11:00 a.m. - 12 Sunday - 11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

Publisher

Editor

Reporters:

photographers:

Patricia Krotki Email: pmkrotki@pdgmedia.ca

Sabrina Bedford Email: sabrina@pdgmedia.ca

Amy Hogue Howaida SorourRoberts

Jason Code Amy Hogue

NOTE: Skating is cancelled during special events such as hockey tournaments

PUBLIC SWIMMING FOR ALL AGES AT THE HUB 361 Queen St. in the Gallipeau Centre Mondays - 6-7 p.m.; Tuesdays - 6-7 p.m.; Fridays 6-7 p.m.; Saturdays 2-3:30 p.m.

Cost: Drop In Pricing or Membership Fee apply

Sunday ladies dart league Every Sunday - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - RCAFA Hall

MONDAY DUPLICATE BRIDGE Held at the Royal Canadian Legion every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m.

MONDAY BID EUCHRE Held at the Royal Canadian Legion every Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. in the Canadian Room.

TUESDAY NIGHT BINGO Smiths Falls Civitan Hall, Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Bingo starts at 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY NIGHT BINGO Smiths Falls Legion in the Lancaster Hall, 7:00 p.m.

FRIDAY NIGHT BINGO Rotary Collegiate Hall, 2 Gould St. 7:00 p.m.

WALKING CONCOURSE Smiths Falls Memorial Center open 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. 7 days a week

MIXED DARTS Abbott St. New Players welcome.

2015. While it’s the February edition, we didn’t exactly skip January - we essentially just merged it to avoid any content overlap.

What a year it’s been so far. We’ve been working overtime on the many changes been a lot of not-so-positive news items that’ve come across our desks in 2015. First came the news that Target was pulling out of Canada, obviously including its location in Smiths Falls, at a time when the town’s economy was already fragile.

Retail is an economic backbone to many small communities like ours, so to lose an anchor retailer like Target is a letdown - not only to the 100 people out of work, but to the consumers who are now town limits.

Later in the week, Staples announced they will also close their Smiths Falls locaother 13 jobs.

Jenkins was presumably fed up with the community’s vocal and legal opposition to his council-approved plastics plant. A conto appeal council’s decision- an action he had the right to do, and is not a reason for tunately seen on the online community. It’s not illegal or even immoral to stand up for something you believe in.

Here’s the thing. I believe anyone truly committed to a town should have been prepared for and expected some kind kickback

from the community and/or environmental organizations, especially when dealing with a potentially-controversial idea. I think this should have been anticipated whether the However, despite all that, it was reportFalls and will now choose between one of the many eager communities with compatible facilities and a high demand for employment. Economically, it’s unfortunate, but it was his choice to leave and leave he did. tail closures had residents seemingly rattled, and asking a lot of questions with not many answers.

Needless to say, it’s been a rough month in Smiths Falls. But this happens. Everything always happens in cycles, and the town’s morale will inevitably rebound. Right now is just one of those times when the community needs to be conscious in our effort to move forward instead of dwelling on circumstances that are beyond our control.

We have to remember the town’s economic problems are indicative of a larger global issue - it’s not isolated to Smiths Falls.

We have to remember that, even while dealing with the front-line, direct consequences of a global problem.

While it’s up to the entire community to sustain ourselves, let’s just say I hope the new municipal council is ready to get their hands dirty.

Sabrina Bedford Editor/Layout

February 2015

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www.discoversmithsfalls.ca

community FIRE CHIEF BUDGET REQUEST FOR NEW HOSES AN “EMERGENCY” AMY HOGUE The fire department will be receiving much-needed equipment in 2015 to keep Smiths Falls firefighters equipped to do their job.

Fire Chief Normand Beauchamp was firm in his budget requests before council on Monday, Jan. 19, explaining which of the requests were necessary and which could be put off until 2016.

Beauchamp’s budget request was for $80,000 to purchase $12,000 for personal protective equipment, $12,000 for a hose dryer, $10,000 for Hazardous Materials (Haz Mat) equipment, $15,000 for new hoses, $14,000 for a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) filling station, $8,000 for a gas detector and $9,000 for new SCBA bottles.

The Haz Mat equipment is essential, Beauchamp explained, noting that under the current conditions, if there is a gas spill the fire department “will have a struggle to respond.” Beauchamp also pointed out that if there is a chlorine leak at the train yard,

firefighters don’t have the tools they need to shut off a leak, and that the risk management assessment of the town indicated the train yard is the biggest risk to the town. Beauchamp pointed to the tragedy that occurred at Lac-Megantic in 2013 as an example of what can result from a train accident.

Beauchamp also explained that he has had to pull a number of fire hoses out of service and the town will need to replace “all the fire hoses we have.” Holding up a section of the hose to demonstrate the poor condition of the hoses, Beauchamp pulled pieces off the hose off while council watched.

Councillor Chris Cummings asked what the lifespan of a hose is, to which Beauchamp replied “12 to 20 years.”

Beauchamp then clarified what this means for council.

“The most recent fire hoses we have are from 1988,” Beauchamp informed council, who seemed stunned that the hoses, which should have been replaced in 2008 at the latest, are now 27 years old. Beauchamp

stressed that replacing the fire hoses is “an emergency.”

Beauchamp explained that although it will cost $15,000 to replace all the hoses, with the exception of any hoses on the new fire truck, but that he would then start a replacement program to alleviate future large hose expenses for council. Councillor Lorraine Allen pointed out that the Chief had recently done a water test with the hoses and none of them had passed.

“What you’re doing here is making sure staff are properly equipped for whatever they have to deal with,” Mayor Shawn Pankow said, but added that council has “to find a way for savings or we’ll never come close to a balanced budget.”

Pankow asked Beauchamp if there was “anywhere in here we can make a little savings?”

Beauchamp replied that the new SCBA bottles can wait until 2016, but that the other expenses were essential.

Council decided to remove the SCBA bottles purchase from the budget and defer to 2016.

PATRICIA KROTKI/PHOTO Smiths Falls firefighters recently responded to a small house fire on Golf Club Road. Fire Chief Normand Beauchamp told council on Jan. 19 that without new equipment and hoses firefighters won’t be able to do their job and respond to emergency calls.

“In the long run, we need a municipal partner” HUB | FROM PAGE 1 Pankow asked Sorour-Roberts if there “are any other liabilities or surprises that could come down the pipe?” and was told there were none.

Pankow then pointed out that Sorour-Roberts’ email indicated the Hub is close to the maximum of programming revenue it can achieve, which could limit increasing revenues to meet expenses. Sorour-Roberts explained the Hub had the option of adding in new programs by remaining open later on Saturday, or opening on Sunday.

“Can the Hub be revenue neutral?” Sorour-Roberts ventured, then answered that her calculations suggest the Hub could come within $50,000 of revenue neutrality, but that “at best we could come close but we would never absolutely revenue neutral.”

Recap of Jan. 22 Special COW meeting

The issue at hand for the Hub is financial viability and sustainability of the organization going forward. The Hub is currently in arrears for utility expenses, and owe their landlord approximately $170,000 in past utility costs, which, combined with the cost of operations, are unmanageable given current revenues.

Although the Hub earned $176,000 in program fees in its first year of operation, and they are on track for reaching their $225,000 target for this year, that funding may not make enough of a difference given the high cost of operating an aquatics facility.

According to Hub coordinator, Heddy Sorour Roberts, the Hub has seen an increase of $4,000 in revenue every month since September, and their sponsorship program last year raised $44,000 in sponsorship.

“It’s important to note the Hub community pool is a very viable venture,” Sorour-Roberts explained to council at a special

COW meeting on Jan. 22, “We are more efficient in many ways than compared to other pools in the area.”

The Hub’s current revenue generation are comparable with other pools in the area, including the Perth & District Indoor Pool, which raises roughly the same amount through programming each year. The biggest difference between the Perth Pool and the Hub is the Perth Pool’s expenses are offset by a $145,000 contribution from the municipality, as well as roughly the same amount in grants.

The catalyst for council’s debate about Hub funding came after a Jan. 14 COW meeting where the Hub informed them of a letter received from their landlord, the Gallipeau Centre, telling them that without a commitment for $15,000 monthly to pay for current utility expenses, the pool will close by Jan. 30.

“We are looking for $150,000 of consistent and reliable fund-

ing on an annual basis in order to grow and survive,” Sorour-Roberts said at the Jan. 22 meeting, before adding the Hub is seeking to source that funding not only from Smiths Falls, but also from surrounding municipalities, local hospitals and school boards.

Sorour-Roberts also stressed the Hub will continue seeking grants, sponsorship, advertising and fundraising revenue, and will also look to reduce utility costs by installing a pool cover.

“In the short term, we need $15,000 per month for six months,” Sorour-Roberts said, adding this will give the Hub breathing room to solicit funding and time to implement cost saving measures, but stressed that “in the long run, we need a municipal partner.”

Pankow explained to Hub presenters that council is faced with a tough decision at a tough time, as they are wrestling with the 2015 budget where they are looking to “cut, cut, cut” to keep

a reasonable tax increase.

“That means we have to prioritize what’s most important for the community,” Pankow said, adding that the community has said loud and clear that the Hub is important. “I’d like to at least support a portion of what you need.”

Pankow suggested committing to $7,500 from the town for the six months, a $45,000 commitment, and that the Hub source the remaining $7,500 from surrounding municipalities.

After further deliberation, council agreed to a $7,500 one time payment to the Hub, with the condition that the Hub obtain a 30 day extension from their landlord, the Gallipeau Centre. The intent around the table seemed to be to provide $7,500 for the remainder of the 6 month period, if the Hub is able to reach funding agreements with surrounding municipalities to make up the difference.

www.discoversmithsfalls.ca

February 2015

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community

Smiths falls fight night

Chuckles Jack to close, will reopen early spring on Russell Street East AMY HOGUE

Smiths Falls Police Watch CHILD STRUCK BY CAR ON BROCKVILLE STREET On the 14th of January 2015 at about 3:30pm a motor vehicle traveling south on Brockville Street failed to stop for a crossing guard at Ross Street. The vehicle struck a nine year old child crossing with the guard. The child suffered no serious injury but was transported to the hospital by ambulance as a precautionary measure.

The driver was charged with Careless Driving under the Highway Traffic Act.

MAN TURNS HIMSELF IN AFTER BREAKING WINDOW

On the 16th of January 2015 at about 11:00pm it is alleged that the accused threw a brick at the window of a business on Russell Street East. When the window did not fully break the accused punched at it and cut his hand leaving blood on the glass. The accused fled the scene when a vehicle turned onto the Russell Street. The accused later turned himself in after learning police were investigating him for the mischief.

A 30 year old Smiths Falls man was arrested and charged with Mischief. The accused was released on a Promise to Appear. The allegations have not been proven in court.

With the Smiths Falls location’s temporary closure approaching fast, Mogandas is eager to reopen and continue to provide the Smiths Falls area with his own unique international cuisine selections.

“I want to thank the Smiths Falls community and surrounding area for the continuous support,” Mogandas said. “We will be back with a new, updated menu, high quality service, and a brand new restaurant in the spring.”

For more updates about Chuckles Jack new opening date in Smiths Falls, and Perth, visit Chuckles Jack on Facebook or email ram@chucklesjack.com.

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MAN CHARGED AFTER ASSAULTING ROOMMATE

On the 19th of January 2015 at about 7:30am it is alleged that the male accused was arguing with a female roommate. During the course of the argument the accused grabbed his roommate inappropriately while making a derogatory remark.

A 24 year old Smiths Falls man was arrested and charged with Sexual Assault. The accused was released on a Promise to Appear. The allegations have not been proven in court.

MAN CHARGED AFTER VEHICLE LEAVES RIDE CHECK POINT

On the 21st of January 2015 at about 10:05pm officers were conducting a RIDE program on Cornelia St and observed a motor vehicle making an abrupt turn to avoid going through the check point. Officers caught up to the vehicle and the passenger was found to be in possession of a quantity of suspected marijuana.

A 31 year old Smiths Falls man was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. The accused was released on an Appearance Notice. The allegations have not been proven in court.

The 28 year old female driver of the vehicle was charged with being a novice G1 driver without an accompanying qualified driver.

Smiths Falls Police Service urges anyone with further information regarding this incident, or similar incidents, to contact our service at 613-283-0357. Information may be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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JASON CODE/PHOTO Zach Last (right) from Zendragon Martial Arts, Fitness and Yoga Studio and Andrew Archer from Hayabusa Academy, Kingston, demonstrated their fighting skills before the crowd on Saturday, Jan. 24. The third installment of Smiths Falls Fight Night, hosted by Zendragon, was a hot spot for Muay Tai style fighting on Saturday, Jan. 24, where fighters from Zendragon and affiliated schools demonstrated their skills and training. For this event, Zendragon fighters were joined by Hayabusa Academy from Kingston and Smiths Falls’ councillor, John Maloney. Maloney and his competitor, Brian Nelson, engaged in a traditional style boxing match to the shouts and cheers of fans. Proceeds from this event went to local athlete, Neil Doef, and the Doefstrong fundraising campaign.

Good things come to those who wait, and residents of Smiths Falls found that out firsthand after Dec. 31, when Chuckles Jack’s Centre Street location closed.

The restaurant, which has become a mainstay in downtown Smiths Falls, will close until early spring while the owner, Ram Mogandas, transitions between its current location, at the Comfort Inn, to its new location, at 23 Russell St. E. Between January and March, Mogandas will be working to create the same welcoming atmosphere from the original Chuckles Jack location at the new location. “We’ll have an updated menu with more selection,” Mogandas explained. “And we will still cater for food sensitivities.”

Mogandas has more exciting news besides the new Smiths Falls locationHe will also be opening a new restaurant in Perth, on Foster Street, a big move for the restaurant owner.

The Perth restaurant will feature the same famous Chuckles Jack menu favourites, along with a few new choices. Its central location will be in the downtown core, only a few feet from Gore Street.

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Council approves 10 per cent water rate increase AMY HOGUE Council passed a by-law on Jan. 19, with a recorded vote, to establish new rates and service charges for water usage within the town of Smiths Falls. The new rate will see a 10 per cent increase in both the base rate and the usage rate, and according to Mayor Shawn Pankow, will result in an approximate increase of $8.00 per residential water bill.

According to Councillor Lorraine Allen, setting a new rate is something council must do at the beginning of a term of office.

Councillor Jay Brennan, who was in opposition to the increase, requested the recorded vote.

“This isn’t a quick decision,” Pankow explained before Council’s vote. “We have had great discussion and debate for setting the water rates.”

Council, who met on Saturday, Jan. 17 to go over budget issues, spent the day going through the budget line by line and discussing options for reductions to reduce an approximately two million dollar budget shortfall. Pankow explained that in 2014 there was a $250,000 shortfall between water expenses and revenue and that needs to be addressed.

“We have to be conscious that whatever not recovered from rates comes from taxes,” Pankow said.

A 10 per cent increase to the base rate is anticipated to generate an additional $115,716.80 in revenue while see an additional $115,716.80, bringing the expected revenue increases to $231,433.60. This amount should offset any shortfall for 2015.

Brennan said he is opposed to the increase due to the number of challenges the community has had in the last number of years.

“The issue goes to affordability for homeowners,” Brennan said, before adding that the last five years have seen a 38 per cent increase on both sections of resident’s water bills.

Councillor Maloney said he will not be opposing the motion to raise rates, but that it is not something he takes lightly.

“I hear everybody around the table,” Maloney said, noting that at this point it’s either “increasing the water or taxes and that at least this way people have a chance [to lower costs] if they want to use less water.”

In a recorded vote, Councillors Allen, Cummings, Maloney and Mayor Pankow were in support of the increase, while Councillors Brennan, Gallipeau and Quinn were opposed.

Jumpstart Supports Smiths Falls Sports For Youth

SUBMITTED PHOTO

AMY HOGUE Smiths Falls Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program will soon be losing one of its staunchest supporters with the departure of Canadian Tire franchise owner, Eron Doucette.

After three years owning the Smiths Falls Canadian Tire, Eron and Ken Doucette have managed to make huge strides with the local Canadian Tire Jumpstart program.

Over the past three years, Eron has worked hard to invigorate the largely overlooked Smiths Falls’ Jumpstart program. In fact, prior to 2011 there was no local Jumpstart chapter, and instead Smiths Falls was incorporated into the Lanark County Jumpstart.

One of the first things Eron

did was create the Smiths Falls chapter, where funds raised in Smiths Falls stay in Smiths Falls.

Eron has made the Jumpstart program a priority and has gone above and beyond in terms of fundraising events, particularly Jumpstart Day. And all that work has definitely paid off for the Smiths Falls community.

In 2011, the Smiths Falls Jumpstart program raised $16,472 to help over 120 children participate in organized sports and activity programs. In 2014, that number nearly doubled, with $32,500 being distributed to assist more than 200 children, $11,582 of which was raised in the month of May (Jumpstart Month) alone.

“Jumpstart brings our community together,” Eron explained, “It feels great to help out others in the community and we can only do it as a team.”

According to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program website, one in three Canadian families can’t afford to enroll their children in organized sports or physical activity. As a nationally owned registered charity, the Jumpstart program’s goal is to remove the financial barriers so all kids have the opportunity to engage in sports.

The Jumpstart program enables kids from financially disadvantaged families to participate in organized sports and physical activities, by assisting with the costs associated with equipment, transportation and registration. Some of the activities included under Jumpstart are hockey, dance, swimming, beavers, guides, curling, archery, bowling, martial arts, golf and more.

One hundred per cent of all funds raised in a community through Jumpstart go directly to offer financial assistance for children in that community.

Canadian Tire funds any

administrative expenses related to the operation of the Jumpstart program.

Eron said her background in child and youth care might explain some of the passion she’s demonstrated for the Jumpstart program, because she understands how important it can be for a local community.

“There are so many ways we can raise more money for our community,” Eron said, “Even though I’m going to be gone I’d still like to see that continue.”

Although Eron said she is sad to leave Smiths Falls, she is confident the new franchise owner will continue what she has accomplished with Jumpstart.

Because the new owner will take over the Smiths Falls Canadian Tire franchise only a week before the annual Jumpstart day, May 30, 2015, Eron is hoping members of the community will step up to the plate with the organization and running of this year’s event.

In 2014, Jumpstart Day included events such as face painting, Siloki laser tag, Masonic chip identification program, clowns, a barbecue and bake sale etc. More exciting events are in the early planning stages for the 2015 Jumpstart Day, and Eron says she hopes to exceed the 2014 funds raised in Jumpstart Month, which totaled more than $10,000.

For more information about the Jumpstart program, including applying for funding, please visit http://jumpstart.canadiantire.ca. To assist with the planning and organization for the 2015 Jumpstart Day, please contact Eron Doucette or Courtney Gamble at 613-283-3906.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Constable Mack (left) and Constable Murphy (right), present Smiths Falls Canadian Tire owner and Jumpstart supporter, Eron Doucette, with a donation on behalf of the Smiths Falls Police Association at the 2014 Jumpstart Day.

February 2015

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community

Target closure provides opportunity “No Cost” Dental for worker’s co-operative Hygiene Services offered at Smile Sensations

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO Smiths Falls resident, Carol Ann Knapp, is all smiles about the opportunity to create a co-op in Smiths Falls. “If you’re unemployed or underemployed in this region, we would certainly welcome the participation,” Knapp said.

AMY HOGUE When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, and that’s just what Carol Ann Knapp is planning to do following Target’s recent announcement of their withdrawal from Canada. Knapp is looking at seizing this opportunity to move forward with a longtime interest of hers, to set up an indoor intensive gardening co-operative in Smiths Falls.

Knapp said she had no forewarning of Target’s decision to withdraw from Smiths Falls when she arrived at work on Jan. 15.

Within minutes of arriving for work, she was informed of the bad news by fellow staff members – they would all soon be out of a job.

Knapp said at first she was upset, but only briefly. “I probably cried for less than 30 seconds before I thought co-op,” Knapp explained.

Knapp is no stranger to co-operatives. She was part of the creation of the Dandelion Foods co-operative in Almonte several years ago, and although she decided to bow out when her vision no longer connected with the path the project was taking, she has never lost her interest in co-operatives and the benefits they hold. Knapp also made the move to Smiths Falls two years ago with the intent to found a co-op, but family changes affected her plans.

According to the International Co-operative Alliance, a co-operative is based on values of selfhelp, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.

A worker’s co-operative, like the kind that Knapp is looking at creating in Smiths Falls, is one where the business is owned and managed by its members.

Co-operatives are organized according to the seven principles of

co-operation, namely voluntary and open membership, democratic member control, member economic participation, autonomy and independence, education, training and information, co-operation among co-operatives and concern for the community.

With so many closures in Smiths Falls, and now with yet another closure announced, a co-operative could be just the opportunity Smiths Falls needs.

Knapp’s plan to set up an indoor intensive gardening business is not one without foundation. In essence, Tweed is doing just that, only with a slightly different end product than what Knapp sees being produced.

“There’s definitely a different profit margin between an ounce of marijuana and an ounce of lettuce,” Knapp acknowledged.

Knapp explained she would like to see the co-operative grow the most popular crops and the highest sellers in the grocery store, such as lettuce, broccoli, celery, beans and sprouts. Sprouts in particular have an interest for Knapp, since they grow quickly and are a quick turnover crop. She said she sees the co-op supplying local businesses, including potentially the Two Rivers Food Hub, but has not ruled out moving farther afield.

With access to many contacts from her previous foray into the co-operative world, Knapp said she has already touched base with co-operative guru, Russ Christianson, who has been involved in the start-up of many Ontario co-operatives. Knapp will be holding a question and answer meeting on Feb. 3, 7 p.m. at 71 Cornelia St. for anyone interested in being involved in the coop. Christianson will be a guest speaker at the session, and Mayor Shawn Pankow will also be invited to participate.

Knapp stressed that you don’t need to be a farmer or gardener to become involved in the Smiths Falls co-operative, and that because it is a business any number of positions will need to be filled.

“We need IT, we need management, we need HR…just because it’s a worker’s co-op doesn’t mean it isn’t still an operating business, the difference is where the profits go and who has a say…I’m hoping I’ll just be a gardener,” Knapp said. “If you’re unemployed or underemployed in this region, we would certainly welcome the participation.”

Knapp has already been looking at potential locations for the co-operative, including the former Hershey factory which has recently been the subject of community debate following a plastics-to-fuel oil conversion plant proposal for that location. Other locations are also being considered, although Knapp said it’s too early to tell where they will end up.

For Knapp, a co-operative is an opportunity for success.

“I would like to bring some job security for myself and for other people, and for people to see that the co-op model works,” Knapp explained, adding that historically co-operatives have a higher success rate than regular business models.

For more information about the co-op, or the upcoming question and answer session please visit their Facebook group, called Smiths Falls Workers’ Community Co-operative Initiative, or attend the information session on Feb. 3, 7 p.m. at 71 Cornelia St.

For the seventh consecutive year, Lori Lawrence and fellow dental hygienists will be volunteering at Smile Sensations to provide “no cost” dental hygiene services to those people in our community that do not have the financial means to access this important component of overall health.

Lawrence was excited to find out that Smiths Falls Mayor Shawn Pankow and town council will be proclaiming Saturday February 7th “Gift From the Heart Day” in recognition of this special event.

Lawrence described the event as “one day a year that is set aside for Dental Hygienists across Canada to shine a spot light on the profession as they open their clinics and their hearts to offer such an important service as dental hygiene therapy. Working in Smiths Falls, I am very aware of the many people who put off seeing a dental professional due to financial restrictions.

We all know how important it is to have a healthy mouth because of the correlation to heart disease and diabetes; yet many people simply cannot access this service. There are bills to pay, clothing and groceries to buy, day care expenses and car repairs just to name a few. The list is long.

After all is said and done, there isn’t much money left at the end of the month for dental hygiene. We have a lot of parents who will make sure their children are taken care of but hold off on their own appointments; as well, we have seniors who are living on a “low” fixed income who cannot afford anything extra. These are the people that this day is designed for.

The Ontario government has assistance programs in place to ensure children do not go without care, but there are no such programs in place for adults and seniors. That is why at Smile Sensations we

will only be offering appointments for anyone over 19 years old.

In order to make sure that we see those people that are the most deserving, there is a specific criterion that everyone must fit to qualify for an appointment.

Anyone that is interested or knows someone in need, can call Smile Sensations 613-2050555 to talk to Lana, our office manager about the details, or email smilesensations@cogeco. net.

Lawrence added “I look forward to this event every year as the day is very special to everyone involved. The patients are so grateful to be able to finally get their teeth cleaned. Yet it is the feeling of ‘giving back’ that is so overwhelming for me and my colleagues. When the event is over our hearts are beating strong with gratitude, knowing that we were able to make a tiny bit of a difference.

The past 6 years Smile Sensations has had the privilege of transforming over 125 smiles locally and collectively 3765 smiles across Canada. We are really looking forward to Feb. 7 as there are more dental hygiene locations signing up to participate every day allowing us to achieve our goal of reaching as many people “in need” as possible.

If you would like to see the growing list of participating offices closest to where you live, they are all posted on the website www.giftfromtheheart.ca.

I invite everyone to please check the Smile Sensations Facebook page for details and if you can “Share” it in order to spread the message that would be wonderful.

We’re changing our community one smile at a time!

Lori Lawrence R.D.H. Smile Sensations Dental Hygiene Clinic www.smilesensations.ca

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lifestyle sports

JASON CODE/PHOTO The Smiths Falls Bears are back in full swing after their holiday break. There’s been a few changes in the roster after local athlete and Bears top scorer Neil Doef suffered a traumatic injury while playing for Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge back in December.

Smiths Falls Bears are back in full swing Jason Code

The Smiths Falls Bears are back in full swing after the two week holiday break. There’s been a few changes in the roster after local athlete and Bears top scorer Neil Doef suffered a traumatic injury while playing for Canada East at the World Junior A Challenge back in December.

Some new additions are, Broydon Stufko from the Nepean Raiders, Alexander Kealey from Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL, and Cody Bean from the Ottawa Jr Senators (as of January 10th). Also the team has parted ways with Brandon Lesway to the Kemptville 73’s, Craig Cross to the Dryden Ice Dogs of the SIJHL, and the club releasing Connor Cobbold.

With having all the lines being shuffled about with all the

recent changes, Bears rookie Josh Leblanc has been added into the fold on the top line with Kevin Groulx and Cole Busschaert.

The clubs late Decemberearly January schedule was a rough one with just two wins out of eight games, losing backto-back against Carleton Place and home and away losses versus the Pembroke Lumber Kings. In the most recent game against the Kemptville 73’s, Smiths Falls native Michael McKenney scored the overtime winner helping the club to get out of a three game losing skid. The team is on the road (Jan. 15 and 16) to take on the Cornwall Colts and Gloucester Rangers but returns home to the Memorial Community Centre Jan. 23 where they host the Cornwall Colts, 7:30 p.m. puck drop.

Bear Tracks Newly acquired forward Cody Bean from the Ottawa Jr. Senators in his first game wearing the yellow and black colours of the Bears helped assist on the OT winner against the Kemptville 73’s. Bean, having put up 18 points with the Jr Sens in 39 games this season, hails from the village of North Hatley, Quebec, at only 5’6”, 165 pounds, he’s quick on his skates and moves the puck very well.

Smiths Falls sits in 5th in the league standings with a record of 23-15-2-4 in 44 games, just two points up on the Hawkesbury Hawks. The club is in fourth in league attendance with an average of 422 fans per/ game in 25 home games.

Members of the Bears will be on hand at an upcoming DoefStrong fundraiser for Neil

Doef and his family, which is organized by the Ottawa 67’s hockey club (OHL), Jan. 18 against the Peterborough Pe-

tes at the TD Place in Ottawa, puck drop is set for 2 p.m.

For your number one source of Jr. A Bears photos

check out Smiths Falls HomeTown News on Facebook for up-to-the-minute game-day action.

JASON CODE/PHOTOS

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lifestyle

February is Heart and Health month: A New Month, A New You! Every day you wake up is a new day with new opportunities to create change and live a healthier lifestyle.

With the high demands that our daily lives have; you may dismiss the importance of your own health & wellness. If this is the case, it is never too late! Take charge of your life! We only have one life to live make the absolute most of it.

Falls Family Chiropractic and Wellness care about our members, their families and friends, and the community.

COREScore technology, we have the technology to help you live a happier, healthier lifestyle.

Let’s talk about Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and of heart-rate variability is a powerful, objective and non-invasive tool to explore

the dynamic interactions between physiological, mental, emotional and behavioural processes.

COREScore and HRV helps doctors determine a person’s overall ability to adapt to the environment.

Stressful lifestyle events, poor nutrition, limited physical activity and constant emotional aggravation can cause the body to response. We live our entire lives through our nervous systems. Every movement, sensation, emotion and organ function is under the guidance of the nerves.

With CORESCore, we can now accurately report on nervous system. A low HRV is associated with accelerated aging and poor heart health. Seeking and maintaining regular chiropractic adjustments has been prov-

on the HRV. Ignoring the warning signs puts your health at risk.

HRV in the Fitness World?

He’s looking forward to moving into the community but for now he’s commuting from Kingston to a suitable home. Art Manhire arrived in Smiths Falls last November to take on the role of Community Services Manger.

“Quality of life is important to me, so settling into the community is important to me and my family,” says Manhire.

His new role means that he’s responsible for the recreational, cultural and community facilities that contribute to residents’ experience of the town.

“Part of my job will be to help people understand the connections between the various services,” he says. includes childcare, town cemeteries, the library, museums, arenas, parks and basically all town facilities.

“Community services is governance, but it encompasses things that contribute to quality of life in the community, so it’s one of those things that are more Having said that, he points out that revenue neutrality is not always the goal for community facilities.

“Part of my job s to look at the operations and bring

level of service, so revenue neutrality may not be the goal,” he explains.

At this stage, he’s just familiarizing himself with Smiths Falls, its services, and facility operations until he gets direction from council and the town’s residents.

“Direction will come out of the Strategic Planning process which we’ll be engaging in over the next month or so, and our direction will come from consultations with the people that live here,” says Manhire. “I’m here to provide leadership and guidance to leverage the best experience we can for the community with the facilities we have.

Ultimately the bricks and mortar are tools and it’s all about what kind of experience we can create using those tools” he explains.

Manhire comes with considerable operational experience. He worked in senior management for more than 20 years with the YMCA in both Toronto and Ottawa, running YMCA units. He’s also worked in public health and housing with the city of Ottawa in community partnership and capacity building.

“I’ve always been in operations, and now I’m in strategic operations, but I’m never been far from the operational side,” he says.

Most recently he managed programs and facilities for the city of Whitehorse in the Yukon.

Smiths Falls FAM ILY CHIROPRACTIC AND WELLNESS

Serving the community for over 18 years!

on HRV has been done in endurance athletes, professional football players, Olympians, CrossFitters, and other high-performance athletes use HRV monitoring to track their rest and recovery periods, pinpoint optimal training and competing times, and avoid overtraining.

Why managing and lowering HRV is much more important than reducing Cholesterol levels.

Most people believe that heart attacks are caused due to fatty foods that elevate blood cholesterol, which in turn leads to colleges arteries resulting in heart attacks.

SEE PAGE 9

Revenue neutrality may not be the goal for town facilities

Howaida Sorour-Roberts

www.discoversmithsfalls.ca

ational facility for the Canada Games in 2007 and I was recruited to make that facility work for the community,” says Manhire.

His strategy there, was to encourage community involvement and relationship development and create opportunities for people to get involved to realize a better, healthier community.

Born and raised in Montreal, Manhire has since travelled and lived in a range of Canadian communities in Ontario, the Yukon and Alberta. He says he’s really enjoying his Smiths Falls experience so far.

“It’s even better than I ever thought it was going welcoming energy about this town,” he says.

His schooling was in physical and health education and he’s an avid outdoorsman who enjoys cling. He played rugby of years and delights in target shooting and archery.

“I played hockey for the have to work on my skills but I enjoyed it.”

Manhire now occupies Rick St. Denis’s former ofFalls Memorial Community Centre at the heart of one the town’s major assets.

“I’m very excited to be here,” he concludes.

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CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. MENTION THIS AD FOR SPECIAL OFFER!

February 2015

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lifestyle

The Gilded Monarch

SMITHS FALLS BRIDAL SHOW

opens in Davidson’s Courtyard in Smiths Falls

JASON CODE/PHOTO This was just one of the beautiful brides who walked the runway at the 27th Annual Smiths Falls Bridal Show. The event was held at Hanley Hall on McGill St. N. on Sunday, Jan. 18 and hosted vendors from every sector of the wedding industry, with everything from catering to invitations, music, venues and everything in between.

The event was a success and had visitors all day long.

Stress management the best path to overall health, says RPN FROM PAGE 8 Research states otherwise, no association has ever been linked to cholesterol levels and heart attacks.

A ten-year study involving 21 countries found that those with the highest fat consumption had the lowest mortality rates from heart disease and those with the least fat intake had the highest death rates.

No dietary trial to lower cholesterol has ever resulted in a reduction of coronary disease or total mortality rates.

No association has ever been scientifically made between coronary heart disease and cholesterol levels, although what about death by stress ?

Stress is the number one killer in the world.

Stressful life-changing events, Type-A behaviour and emotions (depression, anxiety, hostility, anger) have all been linked to higher rates of heart attacks.

Stress causes deep abdominal fat deposits that promote insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and heart attacks.

Stress reduces HRV, a power-

ful predictor of sudden death.

Managing stress - Learning proper coping techniques and stress reduction tools is the key to unlocking your greatest health potential.

The COREScore TM is made up of the three important spinal-neural tests: Pulse Wave Profiler, Surface EMG and Thermal Scan which tells us how stress is impacting your overall health and well-being.

It precisely detects where and how deep the problem is.

Chronic stress and body tension damages everyone’s health.

Based on your individual COREScore TM, Smiths Falls Family Chiropractic will develop a highly-personalized care plan with a goal of moving toward a score of 100 – a near perfect spinal nerve function.

Call the Smiths Falls Family Chiropractic and Wellness for more information and to book your appointment today for an assessment and find out your COREScore TM. Submitted by the Smiths Falls Family Chiropractic and Wellness Centre. Written by Sarah Patterson RPN - COREScore Tech.

The artistic community of Smiths Falls takes another step forward with the opening of The Guilded Monarch in Davidson’s Courtyard.

Helmed by Vanessa MacLellan, this new addition to the downtown core offers beautifully hand-painted vintage furniture and home decor. Also on offer are locally hand made soaps and body products my JANmade, and jewellery by Stone Envy.

Inspired by the chalk paints of Annie Sloan and similar enthusiasts, MacLellan has crafted her own vision and artform using reimagined furniture and lush designs.

The Guilded Monarch creates signature pieces in store but is also available for custom pieces & commissions.

The Guilded Monarch is open 10-5 Tuesday - Saturday at 7 Russell Street West.

Its grand opening will take place Feb. 7 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., with the ribbon cutting taking place at 12:00 p.m. by Mayor Shawn Pankow.

Light refreshments, demonstrations, discounts, prizes and a great opportunity find a unique Valentine gift for that special someone.

Read more about the store on Facebook. www.facebook.com/guildedmonarch.

FACEBOOK/PHOTO The Guilded Monarch is a culmination of store owner Vanessa MacLellans’ “love of painting, passion for interior decor and deep admiration for an artist by the name of Annie Sloan.” The Grand Opening will take place Feb. 7 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., with Ribbon Cutting taking place at 12:00 p.m. by Mayor Shawn Pankow.

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LOUIE HART: A TRIBUTE Remembering the Hart of hockey in Smiths Falls Andrew Snook Passionate. Respectful.

Dedicated. Fun. Fair.

These are just a few of the words Smiths Falls’ minor hockey alumni used to describe a man that gave them 65 years of his time and energy. The kind of dedication rarely seen by individuals in any field, let alone one that is completely voluntary. He was the face of the town’s minor hockey community for more than half a century and he will be remembered as a man who is all heart.

His name? Ellwood “Louie” Hart.

“When you think about what Louie accomplished over 65 years, it’s a phenomenal contribution,” said Dennis Staples, former mayor of Smiths Falls.

In addition to being coached by Louie for two years back in bantam about 57 years ago, Staples was a long-time friend of the man so well respected in the minor hockey community.

“He coached me, he coached my son. Louie coached boys that became fathers, who then became grandfathers, and then became great grandfathers.

At least three generations of hockey players... he was

so proud of all his kids,” Staples said.

The long-time member of town council still remembers his former coach’s colourful description of his play, sometimes referring to him as a “garbage collector”.

“He used to say if I was in front of the net and the puck came to me I would find a way to get it in,” Staples said laughing.

The beginning

Louis began his journey into minor hockey as a young man back in the early 1950s.

The convenor of Smiths Falls’ minor hockey house league program at the time, John Halpin, still remembers the day Louie walked into the arena looking to help out.

“He came in and said, ‘Do you want any help?’ I said, ’Sure, you can teach the kids in the yellow jerseys… that’s how Louis got started in town,” said Halpin.

When Louie started out behind the bench, the young bantam players would sometimes get a chuckle from some his speeches, but always in a friendly way, Halpin recalled.

“Some of them liked to make fun of him for some of his sayings like, ‘If we score more goals than the other team we’ll win,’” Halpin said laughing. “But they all respected him.”

Dedication Margaret and Louie Hart.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

One of the reasons the kids Louie coached over

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Mr. Hart receiving the key to Smiths Falls from then-Mayor Dennis Staples.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

the years had so much respect for him was his determination to give the players as many opportunities as possible to hone their skills.

“He was dedicated and spent a lot of time with the kids,” said Halpin. “The other coaches would complain about not having enough ice time; but Louie, he always seemed to manage to get ice time for the kids.”

Dave Steenburgh, a former bantam player of Louie’s who went on to become the director of business operations for the Belleville Bulls in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), remembered growing up thinking that Louie lived at the hockey rink in town.

“I lived a block from the rink and every time I went to the arena, at eight or nine years old, Mr. Hart was there,” said Steenburgh from his cell phone at Yardmen Arena in Belleville, Ont., where he was waiting for the Bulls to play the Niagara Ice Dogs.

“I remember wondering if Mr. Hart slept at the rink. I always wondered if he had a bed there.”

Myron Porter, another

former bantam player of Louie’s in the late 1950s, remembers his former coach as extremely generous to kids he coached.

“He had almost no money at all and he still gave everything to us,” said Porter from his home in Perth, Ont. “As 12-year-olds, we were extremely grateful to the man who had almost nothing himself but gave all his time to us.”

One memory of Louie that brought a laugh to Porter was a promise his former coach made to him when he was on the bantam team all those years ago.

“My favourite line I always liked to tease Louie about was that he said he would take us to Boston,” Porter said. “It turns out the farthest we ever got was Brockville. I always liked to tease him about that. He’d jam us in his old car – I think it was a ‘49 Pontiac back in 1958 and drive. He was the first guy to ever take us out of town.

He was the first real coach that we ever had in minor hockey in Smiths Falls.”

Fair play

After working as the di-

rector of business operations for the Bulls for seven years, Steenburgh retired from the position, but still acts an ambassador for the team. When he wasn’t busy with the OHL franchise, he would spend his time coaching minor hockey.

One of the most important lessons he learned from his time being coached by Louie as a bantam player in the late 50s and early 60s was to treat your players fair.

“I always remember how he treated every player on that team so equally,” he said. “I wasn’t a star player, or the worst player, but I always knew he would play me equally. It made me a better coach. That was a real lesson that I learned.

He made all of us feel like an important part of the team.”

Another bantam former player, Gary Bisonette – who also worked with Louis for 15 years – travelled to Port Huron, Mich., with Louie for two years to complete at the Silver Stick tournament, playing alongside some of the town’s most well-known hockey alumni, including former NHL player Gary

SUBMITTED PHOTO

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HART LEAVES BEHIND LEGACY OF HARD WORK, HONESTY, RESPECT RULES AND OTHERS McAdam.

But even though McAdam went on to the NHL, that didn’t mean he, or any other one of Louie’s players, were ever given special treatment.

“He was a real people coach, he treated us all well,” said Bisonette. “It didn’t matter if you were on the first line or the third line, on his hockey team you got to play. He took chances on everybody.”

Be respectful

Another reason for the respect Louie received stemmed from the manner in which he would conduct himself behind the bench.

“Louie never swore in front of the kids,” said Hal-

pin, who spent part of his time in minor hockey as a referee.

Former mayor of Smiths Falls Dennis Staples said that his former coach always led by example when it came to treating officials respectfully.

“In all the years I played for Louie, and for the next 25 years I was involved in minor hockey, I can never recall an incident where I watched where he was ever critical or disrespectful to a referee. That made an impression on me,” Staples said. “He set such a good example for us on how to conduct ourselves as players.”

Louie used to have a saying he would tell his play-

with stories about the players, the teams he beat and who scored the goals.

I don’t know how he remembered all of us.”

Most importantly, have fun

SUBMITTED PHOTO This sign is indicative of the amount of respect Louie Hart earned in the Smiths Falls community.

ers before every game, Bisonette recalled.

“I remember his big line was, ‘Stay out of penalty box, stay out of the sin bin.’ He used to tell us that every game,” he said while

SUBMITTED PHOTO This photo of the Bantam All Stars has at least one player Smiths Falls’ residents may recognize. Former Mayor, Dennis Staples, is in the front row, second from the left. Coach Louie Hart is in the back row, far right.

laughing.

Louie also believed it was important to remember the names of all of his players, even decades after they played for him.

Several years after being coached by Louie, Steenburgh went off to teachers’ college in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. Whenever he would come back to Smiths Falls for a visit and bumped into Louie, he said his former coach would always remember him.

“Louie always remembered me by my first name,” Steenburgh said. “That was important to him.”

When on his annual trip with Louis to the coach’s son’s hunting camp, Staples said he always loved to tell old hockey stories.

“He’d always regale us

Bisonette went on to coach rep teams for several years, and for a few of those years, Louis joined him as an assistant. His time with Louis served as a reminder of the most important thing Louis ever taught him about being a coach.

“Make sure that every sport you coach you make it fun for the kids,” said Bisonette. “Louis always tried to make it fun. He always wanted you to come back and play hockey the next year. In my coaching, I’ve always tried to make it so the kids want to come back and play. We’re going to miss him around the rink.”

The legacy left behind

Off the ice, Louis was equally dedicated to his community and would regularly voice his concerns about the town’s affairs to Staples.

“Even during my time on town council for 29 years, Louie would always

stay in touch with a well thought out opinion for things to help improve the community beyond hockey.”

Louie was well known and well respected in and out of the rink for his efforts, but the praise shouldn’t be given to him alone. It should also be given to the love of his life, Margaret Hart, who stood by his side supporting him for most of his life.

“They were a great pair, you’d see them together all the time,” said Staples.

“She deserves a lot of the credit for Louie’s success as well.”

The Smiths Falls community owes a great debt to Louis Hart, a man who asked for little in return for all the time and effort he poured into helping shape the community’s young athletes, and not just for improving their slap shots.

“There were a number of other values he passed on with the example that the set,” said Staples. “The importance of hard work, honesty, and respect for the rules and for others, that’s the legacy he left with me.”

Mr. Hockey’s message will live on for generations AMY HOGUE When looking at the kind of man Ellwood (Louie) Hart was, what better person to speak to his character than his wife of 62 years, Margaret Hart. Hometown News sat down with Margaret Hart to get a glimpse of the man behind the hockey life, and what his legacy means for her and the people of Smiths Falls.

Louie’s relationship with hockey and Smiths Falls had an auspicious beginning when one of the first times he and his brother travelled to Smiths Falls in 1949 to watch a game he got off the train to find the Smiths Falls arena in flames. Undaunted by this experience, Louie went on to become an icon in the world of hockey, a mentor to young people and an inspiration for coaches everywhere.

More than a minor hockey coach, Louie also coached girls hockey, baseball, was part of a bowling league, active in his church, and an avid gardener. No matter the activity he was involved in, he did it with a low profile and with the same dedication and commitment that accompanied him everywhere.

“He didn’t want any fame, he did it for the kids,” Margaret explained.

With a focus on character development and equal opportunity for play, Louie believed in guiding players in the right direction.

“To him, it was all one,” Louie’s son, Brian Hart explained. “He believed if you became a good person on the ice, you’ll be a good person off the ice.”

After Louie’s passing, Margaret said she was approached by many people who told her of the great impact Louie had on their lives, and how they will never forget him.

The response from the community and the hockey world as a whole to his passing, she said, was overwhelming.

“I had no idea there would be this response from the community,” Margaret said.

After more than 60 consecutive years spent guiding young people through sport, Louie’s legacy has been passed on into good hands and his message will continue through them. That legacy included valuing the enjoyment of the sport without necessarily the competition. Margaret said Louie was well known for saying “they had fun and that’s the name of the game.”

“The boys that he coached and the girls would give their right hand for Mr. Hart,” Margaret said. “He was very well respected.”

With a belief in fairness in sport that extended to his own children, Louie lived by what he believed.

“Of all the boys he coached, one of the things he never showed partiality,” Margaret remembered. “Even with his own children he was fair.”

Over the years Margaret has been Louie’s

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO

Margaret Hart stands in the “hockey room,” where Louie collected sports memorabilia, photos and trophies accrued from a 60 year career coaching minor hockey.

staunchest supporter, and said that “hockey was the name of the game around here” throughout the years. Margaret also became involved in the hockey world, enjoying her time spent at the rink watching her children and grandchildren play.

“If you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em,” Margaret laughed.

After raising three sons and enjoying seven granddaughters, two grandsons and four great grandchildren, Margaret and Louie were far from finished with the adventure of life. The couple enjoyed a variety of activities right up until Louie’s passing, and travelled often to visit family and friends, with a visit to St. John, New Brunswick planned for this coming year.

“We didn’t have a minute, really,” Margaret said, pointing to a calendar packed with activities.

Louie’s impact has spread far and wide in the hockey world, having coached and been associated with a number of hockey professionals including Gary McAdam, Gary Doyle, Steve Holt, Sean Howard, George Thompson and Marshall Hogan and many, many others.

And with younger players moving up through the hockey ranks who have also been coached

by Louie, who knows how far into the future his message will spread?

“We’ll see the impact on Smiths Falls for years to come,” Margaret said, “His message will live on one generation to the next.”

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lifestyle

February Check-In: How about those resolutions?

Darlene Mclaughlin In the sport of baseball, a .300 batting average is considered to be excellent, .330 is considered to be an outstanding. Babe Ruth, who is considered by baseball historians as the greatest player in the history of baseball had an average of .342. For Major League Baseball players, a .300 average often means endorsements; substantial compensation; being written and spoken about in the media-in general, star status.

What does a .300 batting average mean? The player hits on average one out of every three balls at bat- or another way of looking at it, they are successful 33% of the time.

A resolution is defined as a firm commitment and on Jan. 1, millions of people make resolutionsthat commitment to lose weight, stop smoking, find love, get organized, stay fit, or whatever it be that we decide we must do for the upcoming year. Many resolutions are formed on the basis of what we think we need to be happier. Statistics state that 54- 88 per cent of resolutions are unsuccessful. When we feel we are unsuccessful many of us inadvertently become overly critical of ourselves.

If hitting one out of three balls in the Major League makes a player a star, then why do we feel the need to be so hard on ourselves at losing 10 pounds when we said we wanted to lose 30? Or instead of organizing the entire house, only a

room was completed? Why aren’t we focusing on our achievements, even if it is only 20% of what we set out to do? The healthy habits we picked up while losing those 5 or 10 pounds? Or the skills and time it took to organize that room?

I have learned that resolutions, as the statistics point out, do not work for me. Instead I focus on goals and objectives. A goal is like a destination, the objectives are the steps you need to reach that destination. In establishing a goal, the first question is whether it is realistic and attainable.

This is often the most difficult as it requires us be honest with ourselves. Maybe upon self-examination, we realize the goal is unrealistic or requires modification or will take longer than we thought to achieve. Are we OK with this? What steps are needed to meet the goal? Can we practice compassion towards ourselves if we stumble along the way?

That is the message that needs to be relayed- with compassion towards ourselves, we become more self-confident, less stressed and less critical of ourselves and goals become more achievable.

Each step we achieve towards a goal should be celebrated, embraced and acknowledged regardless of its magnitude. The journey may be longer than anticipated, maybe we will only reach 33 per cent of the objectives, but in baseball, that would make you phenomenal- remember that.

my crazy life Beckie Brown There are times that I forget to see the awesomeness of the life I live. You see, I work full-time and have three young boys. My husband and I work opposite shifts – part because of the requirements of our jobs and part because it increases the amount of time our children get with us… though not at the same time. We live in Smiths Falls and we drive to Ottawa. I wake up at 4:30 a.m. to get to work for 7:00 a.m. and my husband does the morning routine, he gets our oldest ready for school then spends the next few hours with the younger two. He leaves for work at 1:30 p.m. and the boys go to a sitter – an amazing friend who is kind, caring and welcoming. I get home around 4:45 p.m. and rush in the door trying to get dinner on the go.

Coach b

W

hat would you do if you had...

- One minute left to live?

- One hour left to live?

- One day left to live?

- One week left to live?

- One month left to live?

- One year left to live?

What would you do?

Who would you be? Would

. . It is chaos.

Bedtime is 7:00 p.m. This gives me two hours and 15 minutes with the boys each night of the week. I want this time to be spent talking, reading, singing

run around stabbing each other with light sabers and jumping on each other’s backs. There is absolutely nothing calming about it.

Every minute that passes by feels like 10 and by 6:30

“

I make the decision daily to appreciate life for what it is. 3 boys, 2 dogs and a messy house.

“

and just having fun with my boys. But in reality it never is. By the time we get dinner out of the way we are down to one hour until bedtime. I believe 6-7:00 p.m. is the witching hour. This is the time the boys turn into these monstrous little people who

I am completely exhausted and frustrated because yet again life is not going the way I had planned. I usually end up having a constant back and forth with the boys about who hit who and why, then say you are sorry…. Don’t do it again. This is not what I

OPINION

expected life to be like.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago that my Mom would be saying the same things to us. I can hear her voice come out of my mouth at times as I tell them to get along and play nicely. How did she survive I ask myself… but she did.

I make the decision daily to appreciate life for what it is. 3 boys, 2 dogs and a messy house... The laundry will never be caught up, the toys will continue to scatter my floors – but it is only for a couple of years. Then things will change – and I am not ready for that yet.

Life with young children is a blessing. So tonight, once I get them settled into bed and they fall asleep with a bed full of stuff y toys I will look in on them and take a deep breath, because we all survived today.

Columnist Brian Paquette says “Get busy living or get busy dying” you embrace your time or would you waste it? Would you praise your accomplishments or curse your lack thereof?

The truth is: Any one could be true. You have no guarantees between another day and another decade.

Here’s a relevant and powerful quote to consider:

“Get busy living or get busy dying.”

There is no pause button.

You deserve your own praise. Live strong; love stronger.

The weather and the latest sports event are the least of your worries.

Put down the remote. Instead of watching a game,

go play one. Instead of reading the paper, go write a letter. Instead of pining for love, be someone compelling love. Instead of waiting for inspiration, go inspire someone else.

Don’t worry about how you are going to die. Worry more about how you are going to live.

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february 2015

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culture Genealogical Society helps others connect with their roots AMY HOGUE It’s all about the past at the Lanark County Genealogical Society in Smiths Falls, where visitors from around the world come to trace the roots of their ancestors. Located in the basement of the Heritage House Museum, this is where genealogical society librarians, Shirley Somerville and Helen Benda, are in their element, amidst the thousands of records tracing the histories of many of the area’s great families.

“Smiths Falls and area is the cradle of North America,” Lanark County Genealogical Society founder and current member, Walter Brown, said.

Brown, who has recently donated half of his extensive document collection to the museum, explained that the settlers in the Lanark County area were primarily Irish or Scottish, but that because of poor farm land, they often didn’t stay long in the area.

“The land was so lacking here they went to the Midwest or the states or Western Canada,” Brown

please respect the planet

recycle this paper

explained.

So much traffic through the area created a mix of family trees and genealogy, all of which is kept track of with little fanfare in the genealogical society’s unassuming Smiths Falls’ office. With more than 3,000 documents amassed since its founding in 1981, the genealogical society is a sought after source for genealogical information for people around the world.

“People come here from all over,” Somerville said, “We get emails from England, Ohio, Western B.C., all over.”

Although the two librarians explained they get a lot of emails from around the world for people inquiring about their relatives or family tree, they also get a great deal of people coming to research their family history on-site. Because the genealogical society is not a lending library, anyone interested in researching their family tree must do so in the museum, where the documents are stored.

“A lot of people are elderly and don’t know

how to research on the computer and that’s why it’s nice to come here,” Benda explained, adding that they see more than 100 visitors each year for research. Each visitor must purchase a Research Pass from the museum for $5.00, which is valid for a period of one year.

Taking the time to research your genealogy can be time consuming.

Somerville explained that often people come thinking they need only a few hours to do their research, but end up spending days delving through the multitude of historical records stores by the society.

The first step, Benda said, when trying to find someone in your family tree, is to find the name and the time period the individual is likely to have lived. She advises getting as much information as possible from living relatives before coming to the library to begin your research.

When visitors hit a brick wall in their research, Benda or Somerville will always be willing to lend a helping hand.

AMY HOGUE/PHOTO Lanark County Genealogical Society founding member, Walter Brown (left), joins society librarians Helen Benda (centre) and Shirley Somerville (right) for a photo in front of a portion of their extensive collection containing more than 3,000 documents. Brown recently donated half of his extensive document collection to the genealogical society.

Although genealogy is something often overlooked by younger generations, Somerville said your family history is important, especially considering that anyone who came through the area as a pioneer “must have done something right.”

“Pride in your family is important,” Benda added to Somerville’s point, “It’s interesting to find out how your great grandfather was a postmaster or worked on the canal, it’s just fascinating.”

The current collection of resource materials at the genealogical society contains newspapers, census, histories, scrapbooks and publications

illustrating local history and community events.

Despite the vastness of the collection, the society is always on the lookout for new materials.

Somerville and Benda encourage anyone interested in preserving their family tree to donate their documents to the society.

Although the library is open during the museum’s opening hours, there may only be a librarian on-site two or three days a week, Benda said. Benda and Somerville both expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Heritage House Museum Curator, Carole Miller, and museum staff,

who answer questions for visitors when there is no one available from the society.

Brown explained that he finds it fitting that the genealogical society is housed at the Heritage House Museum. “Smiths Falls started in this museum,” he said, “It’s fitting that the Lanark County Genealogical Society is here.”

For more information about the Lanark County Genealogical Society, please visit their website at http://www.globalgenealog y.com/LCGS/index.htm. The genealogy library is open for visitors Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

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culture

NEW PLAY, HIT MOVIE COMING TO STATION THEATRE IN FEBRUARY The Station Theatre opened its 2015 Season with sold out screenings of Boyhood. Now nights of fun and frivolity arrive in the form of Leading Ladies, a comedy in two acts written by Ken Ludwig, and an outstanding movie, St. Vincent, starring Bill Murray. Offering both evening and matinee performances, the play runs from February 12 to 22, 2015.

Movie Nights are February 27 and 28 at 7.30 PM. Movie

tickets, sold only at the door, are $10, $5 for students.

The play, Leading Ladies, tells the story of two English Shakespearean actors, Jack (Jamie Schoular) and Leo (Robert Del Grande), so down on their luck they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in Pennsylvania’s Amish Country.

When they hear that an old lady is about to die and leave her fortune to her two

SMITHS FALLS THEATRE/PHOTO

long-lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash.

The trouble is, when they get there, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces! Enter romantic interest involving nieces Audrey (Nicki Hayes) and Meg (Andrea Jermacans) and the need for the two actors to become legitimate.

Disastrous decisions lead to hilarious comedy in the inimitable style of Ludwig, the playwright who also penned the delightful comedy Lend me a Tenor and The Three Musketeers, performed by the Smiths Falls Community Theatre in the 2014 season.

Tickets for Leading Ladies are $20 for adults, $10 for students (with ID), with special group rates also available. Call the Station Theatre at 613-283-0300 for details.

Tickets can be purchased at Special Greetings, 8 Russell St. East, Smiths Falls, cash only; from our website (smithsfallstheatre.com) via Paypal/Visa/Mastercard; by phone at 613-283-0300 via Visa/Mastercard; or at the door (subject to availability) ½ hour before the performance—cash only. Please note: mild profanity.

Bill Murray stars as Vincent MacKenna in the title role of the Station Theatre’s next movie offering, St. Vincent. Vincent is an old Vietnam vet whose stub-

SUBMITTED PHOTO

bornly hedonistic ways have left him without money or a future. Things change when his new next-door neighbour Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a new single-mom freshly transplanted to Brooklyn who works long hours, has no choice but to leave her son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher) in the care of Vincent. Vince is willing enough to take it on for a fee. From that self-serving act, an unexpected friendship forms as Vincent and Oliver find so much of each others’ needs through each other. As Vincent mentors Oliver in street survival and other worldly ways, Oliver begins to see more in the old man than just his foibles.

When life takes a turn for the worse for Vincent, both them find the best in each other than no one around

them suspects.

It’s not too late to take advantage of the discounted ticket package offer being made on all six plays in the Station Theatre’s 2015 season. Besides Leading Ladies, there’s a wonderful mix of a mystery, a farce, another comedy, the Canadian premiere of a children’s musical and a British-style Christmas pantomime. The Theatre is offering patrons an opportunity to attend all six plays for just $99.00.

This season ticket comes in the form of a “Six-Pack Flex Pack”. Patrons can select how they want to use their six vouchers to purchase tickets to any of our six shows in the 2015 season.

The deal—which is good up to the deadline of February 22, 2015, the last play date for Leading Ladies—offers a

saving of almost 20 percent compared to the regular adult ticket price. Go to www.smithsfallstheatre.com for detailed information on the different ways the “SixPack Flex Pack” can be purchased and used throughout the next season. Or call the box office at 613-283-0300 for assistance in purchasing the voucher package using a credit card.

We invite patrons to keep in touch with all our upcoming shows—great plays, movies (like St. Vincent) and special events. Simply sign up for our e-newsletter through a visit to our Web page (listed above) or join us on Facebook (Smiths Falls Community Theatre).

Submitted by the Smiths Falls Community Theatre.

Discover a day in the life of a railroading hobo AMY HOGUE The word hobo today drums up a romantic vision of a heroic hobo hopping on trains and travelling to yet another city or province for an exciting adventure. The reality of Canada’s hoboes and their impact on the railway and society is the real story behind this romanticized vision and one which the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario (RMEO) hopes to explore in their eighth installment of “Stories from the Railway” called Hobo Life.

“It’s a fascinating industry… hoboes are the subculture to railways,” museum curator, Anne Shropshire said, “They’re kind of this mysterious thing, there’s been a couple of movies about them but a lot of people don’t really know much about them.”

A hobo can be described as a migrant itinerate worker, most commonly associated with rail travel during the Great Depression. People may be surprised to learn that hoboes not only still exist, but that there is a very real subculture built around the

hobo lifestyle. ‘Recreational hoboing’ is the term associated with those who travel the rails today as a lifestyle choice.

There is even an ethical code associated with hoboing, written in 1889, with rules that might be surprising for some.

The ethical code includes rules such as: decide your own life, don’t let another person run or rule you; respect local law officials; always try to find work, even temporary work; don’t become drunk and set a bad example for other hoboes, to name a few.

The Hobo Life is a topic the museum has already explored during their summer camp, but those sessions were always geared to children. Because they were so well received in the past, museum staff thought the topic would do well as part of the museum’s popular ‘Stories from the Railway’ series.

“When people think of the railway they think of the workers on it, but don’t often think about the other people who are involved in the railway,” Exhibit and Outreach Technician, Leah La Sorda, explained

SUBMITTED PHOTO

the purpose behind the Stories from the Railway. “Every year we try to pick something that a lot of people don’t necessarily know a lot about.”

In partnership with Friends of the Library, the Hobo Life will mark the first public event for the RMEO’s 30th anniver-

sary, with more events in the works to celebrate this auspicious year for the museum.

The Hobo Life will explore the challenges and uncertainties of riding the rails in search of work during the Great Depression.

Guest speaker, John Mulk-

ern, a member of the National Association of Hoboes, will share photographs and first hand accounts from real life hoboes. Mulkern will be joined by author Terrence Rundle West, for a reading of ‘Hobo Christmas, 1935,’ an excerpt from his latest book, Not in My

Father’s Footsteps.

Hobo Life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ivy on William, located at 42 William St. West. Proceeds from the event will go towards programming for Friends of the Library and the RMEO.

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culture

the artisan loft SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL BUSINESS

7 RUSSELL ST. W.

If you travel to Europe, you know that the artisan is really celebrated there. Mass-produced food and products haven’t yet infiltrated the continitent’s small towns, and homemade, specialty items are the norm.

In Canada, however, we’re very accustomed to big box stores, buying food in bulk. In a society like this, it’s important to still celebrate the artisan. That’s why the Artisan Loft in Davidson’s Courtyard is a true gem in our community - and one that everybody needs to know about.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen the effects of large retail stores coming in and out of our town, and the impact it can have on our local producers. Providing an avenue for local artist and vendors to sell their products is an important part of our culture, and is an integral part of our town’s local economy.

But, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, our society has seen a resurgence in demand for hand-crafted goods, and this is good news all around. With a wide variety of unique offerings to choose from, you’ll be sure to find whatever you are looking for at the Loft. For example, they carry: • Fresh homemade meals, bread and baked goods • Handmade home decore, clothing and jewellery • Artwork and photography • Books by local authors • Custom made gift baskets, among other items.

Local artisans offer something unique that can’t be found anywhere else. The Artisan Loft accepts locally handmade items on consignment and they’re always on the lookout for additional unique artisans looking for a place to sell their creations.

FACEBOOK/PHOTO

If you haven’t been into the Loft’s new location (still in Davidson’s Courtyard), you’re missing out! They occupy the space that used to be the Yoga & Wellness Centre.

They’ve beautifully transformed the spaced so it truly emcompasses the feel of an Artisan Loft.

One of their newest, most successful additions to the products they offer has been the very popular ‘Our Little Secrets.’ This is comprised of Homemade baked goods, and fresh and frozen Meals To Go, with daily selections like homemade Chicken & Dumplings and Mac ‘n Cheese (just to name a couple) - it’s the perfect comfort foods for this bitter winter weather.

The best way to invest in your town is to invest in its artisans and local business owners. Check the Loft out today!

Local chef to compete on Chopped Canada TV show in February sabrina bedford A chef from Smiths Falls will soon be hitting your television screens on a reality cooking competition show.

Luc McCabe, 34, was chosen from thousands of applicants to compete on the second season of the popular reality show Chopped Canada. He made it through a series of interviews and exams before he was accepted and eventually cast in one of the episodes of the season.

The Canadian version of the popular Chopped series began airing its current season on the Food Network on Jan. 10. McCabe’s episode is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7 at 9:00 p.m. on Food Network Canada.

McCabe is your typical guy. He went to SFDCI, played football for the Redmen, and eventually went on to play semi-professional football with the Saskatchewan. However, when

an injury left him unable to play anymore, he realized her had another, equally-passionate skill: cooking.

He’s now an Executive Chef, has been on multiple food judging panels and other national cooking competitions, but never ones as high caliber as Chopped Canada.

McCabe’s connection to Smiths Falls is strong. You might remember him - he was raised in town and worked as a chef at The Kilt and Castle on the corner of Lombard and Brockville streets until three years ago when he accepted the position as head chef at NAV Canada, a worldclass conference centre that has hosted government and business leaders from around the world. in Cornwall, Ontario.

He’s slowly making his presence known on a national stage, and this probably isn’t the last we’ll hear of him.

WWW.DISCOVERSMITHSFALLS.CA

Saturday February 7, 2015 has been Proclaimed Gift From the Heart Day! Plans are in place once again to open the doors at Smile Sensations to provide “NO COST” dental hygiene services to those people in our community that are experiencing financial hardship and find it difficult to afford dental hygiene care.

There is a specific criterion that must be met in order to receive an appointment.

If you are in need or know of someone that is please call 613-205-0555 (Please keep in mind that because this is a one day event there are only a limited number of spaces available)

Saturday February 7, 2015

Changing our Community One Smile at a Time!

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www.discoversmithsfalls.ca

food & drink I

what does it mean to Eat Local?

t’s quite the buzzword these days, but what does it really mean and how do you “eat local”?

The idea of eating local stems from a number of con-

siderations, including cost, quality, and environmental impacts. When we buy foods, particularly produce, grown in Mexico or China, or even the US, those foods are harvested before they’re ripe and packed

into shipping containers destined for our grocery stores.

In some cases, that produce is sprayed with ripening agents to ensure it reaches its “peak” by the time it makes it onto the store shelves. Sounds good,

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doesn’t it? The need to transport produce long distances impacts the cost (it’s more expensive); compromises quality - have you tasted a tomato from Mexico in the middle of winter? It’s like eating a cotton ball.

Last but certainly not least, it’s impossible to deny the significant negative environmental impacts of trucking or shipping food around the world.

So, what can you do differently and how can you eat more local foods?

• Get to know your farmers! This is at the top of our list.

Your farmers are proud of what they produce and want you to enjoy their food items. We love our farmers and consider them an integral part of our day, both in our business and at home.

• You can start by learning more about what produce is seasonal in your area – Lanark Local Flavour (http://www. lanarklocalflavour.ca/content/ farm) is a phenomenal resource to learn more about what time

of year certain produce is available and they also have a listing of local farms whom you can buy from.

• Eat as locally as possible.

Local can mean in your community but it can also mean within your province or even within Canada. You’d be surprised how much Ontario produce is in the grocery store this time of year, including mushrooms!

• If you can’t find fresh local produce, you can often find it frozen and that’s the next best thing.

• Search online for recipes that use seasonal ingredients.

In winter for example, search out recipes that use potatoes, squash, carrots, parsnips, beets, turnips and cabbage.

We’re fortunate to have an abundance of local farmers in the area who make fresh produce readily available at market stands, by cold storing it through the winter and some who are innovating and finding

ways to grow produce later in the season than they ever have before! And don’t forget local meats, eggs, cheese and honey! The number of local farms offering all of these food items is equally impressive. Does it mean we don’t buy lemons and limes and avocados? No. We buy them because we like those things and they’re important in our cooking. But we do try and eat mostly local foods and keep the out of country ingredients to a minimum.

Does it take some time and effort to track down these little gems of local farms? Sure it does. But we can also help you find these great places and I promise you, your taste buds will thank you! Because nobody enjoys a tomato that tastes like a cotton ball.

Amy Rensby is the owner of Magnolia Catering and Event Creations and can be reached at amy@magnoliacreations.ca or 613-799-8153.

chocolate: HEALTH FOOD?

vickie dickson Chocolate is a health food.

Do I have your attention?

While researching for this article, I came across this set of instructions for eating chocolate: When tasting chocolate, let it sit in your mouth to release the primary flavours and aromas. Then, chew it a few times to release the secondary aromas. Let it rest against the roof of your mouth to get the full flavour.

Can you taste it? I can! Time to hit the local Health Food Store for some dark, rich, “therapeutic” chocolate.

To be clear, the chocolate that I’m speaking of is dark- the darker, the better. While it may not have the smooth, creamy texture that makes milk chocolate so popular, it lacks the high sugar content. Also, unlike milk chocolate, dark chocolate has not been stripped of its beneficial nutrients.

It is an acquired taste, but within a short period of time, your palette will adapt and be completely satisfied with a small serving of dark chocolate. I promise.

There are many health benefits that come from eating dark chocolate, some of which are listed below.

• It is rich in antioxidants and natural compounds that are good for cardiovascular health.

The darker the chocolate, the higher the antioxidants (milk chocolate has few, if any, antioxi-

dants).

• Bacteria in the gut will break down and ferment components in the dark chocolate, turning them into absorbable, anti-inflammatory compounds.

• Like aspirin, dark chocolate has a biochemical effect that reduces the excessive accumulation of platelets, which can cause harmful blood clots.

• The flavonoids in dark chocolate may help the brain after a stroke by increasing cellular signals that shield nerve cells from damage.

• Raw, dark chocolate prevents oxidative damage to blood vessel linings, which effectively relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

• The fat (cocoa butter) found in raw, dark chocolate is a healthy fat and as such, helps to slow the absorption of sugar into the blood stream.

Clearly, we are not talking about your massproduced candy bars here. Please leave the KitKats, the Mars Bars and the Oh Henry’s on the shelf. The chocolate that boasts the most health benefits is the kind that is closest to the natural, raw state of the cocoa bean. The closer to the raw state, the higher the health benefits (like most foods)!

When purchasing raw, dark chocolate, you will find it on the shelf of your local Health Food Store. To receive the greatest health benefits, look for chocolate that is: • fair trade • organic • non GMO • high cocoa content • low sugar content • not artificially sweetened As with all things, moderation is key. Two squares of raw, dark chocolate is a serving, not the whole bar!

Happy Valentines Day!

February 2015

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culture

explore 585 RIDEAU AIR CADET SQUADRON CONDUCTS EFFECTIVE SPEAKING COMPETITION

The Family Tax Cut Steve Bennett

Senior Tax Professional - H&R Block The much-touted Family Tax Cut (FTC) has finally arrived. The announcement came very late in 2014, and the actual tax calculations were not revealed until Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) published the 2014 tax forms at the beginning of January.

The FTC provides families with a non-refundable tax credit equal to the federal tax savings that would be generated by transferring up to $50,000 of taxable income from the higher-income spouse to the other. The tax savings is limited to $2,000.

To be eligible for the Family Tax Cut, the taxpayer and their spouse must be Canadian residents and married or common-law at the end of the year. Either spouse may make the claim, but both spouses must file a return for a year in which the claim is made. The taxpayer or their spouse must have ordinarily lived with their child who is under 18 at the end of the year. A claim cannot be made by a taxpayer who was confined to prison for 90 days or more.

Neither spouse can make the claim if either declared bankruptcy during the year or elected to split pension income.

In the case of ex-partners who have joint custody of a child, they would both be considered to be ordinarily living with their child. This means that both of the parents would qualify for the Family Tax Cut as long as they meet the other criteria.

The Family Tax Cut is often compared with pension income splitting, but the two are actually quite different. Pension income splitting actually lowers the income of one spouse and increases the income of the other. This changes the net and taxable income of the returns, affecting numerous other claims, credits, and calculations. In the case of the Family Tax Cut, the entire calculation takes place on one form: Schedule 1-A. All of these calculations are simply a

“What if...?” scenario. There is no actually change to the income of either spouse.

On Schedule 1-A, the federal tax payable is recalculated as if the income was equalized – to a maximum transfer of $50,000. Let’s look at a two parents with two children under 18. Ross and Rachel have employment income of $60,000 and $12,000, respectively. Without the FTC, some of Ross’ income is being taxed at the 22% federal tax rate. Using Schedule 1-A, they will recalculate the federal tax as if their incomes were both $36,000. Both parents are now in the 15% tax bracket, which will realize a savings of $1,260.04. This final number gets added to Ross’ Schedule 1 as a non-refundable credit and reduces his federal tax payable. In this example, Ross must make the claim as Rachel does not have enough income to use the credit. In many other cases, either spouse would be able to claim the credit.

As mentioned above, the Family Tax Cut cannot be optimized in the same was as pension income splitting. No actual income is being shifted between returns, so the taxpayers are unable to shift income in order to optimize various claims such as medical expenses or child care expenses. As a result, there are fewer tax-savings opportunities, but the FTC is, mercifully, much simpler to implement.

Four members of the 585 Rideau Air Cadet Squadron took part in an effective speaking competition at 443 Wing in Smiths Falls on Monday Jan. 19. The In-house competition, sponsored by the Squadron Sponsoring Committee (SSC), was held to determine the team members who will compete at the Ontario Regional Effective Speaking Competition to be held at Canadian Forces Base Kingston on Saturday Feb. 28.

Warrant Officer 2nd class (WO2) Reggie Hammond as well as Flight Corporals (FCpls) Anya Rogers, Stephanie Spencer and Preston York began preparing for this event early last fall, putting in much personal time and effort since then. Last October, each cadet chose a topic from a list provided by the Air Cadet League of Canada, Ontario Provincial Committee and prepared each Wednesday evening under the guidance of their coach and mentor Aline M. McRory, a devoted squadron volunteer and Secretary to the SSC. This is the third year running that 585 Rideau Squadron will be entering a team in the Regional Effective Speaking Competition, hoping to build on the success experienced last year when the team finished first and third overall. Then Cpl York, whose topic was “Why I remember November 11th”, won the regional competition, earning himself a birth in the provincial competition, while then Cpl Rogers

This article provides only an overview of the regulations in force at the date of publication, and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed legislation or seeking professional advice.

Therefore, no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this bulletin can be accepted by Steve Bennett or H&R Block Canada, Inc.

tied for third with her take on “An ordinary Canadian doing extraordinary things”.

Also a member of last year’s team was Sergeant Pilon who spoke on “Snowbirds – A Canadian icon”. This year, the Squadron is aiming to, not only to be represented at the Provincials in April but, also have a cadet competing at the nationals in May. On Monday night, WO2 Hammond, the most senior of the cadets competing with five years of air cadet experience, chose to reflect on his cadet experience with the topic “Positively influencing your peers”, while FCpl Rogers gave her perspective on the “Impact of texting on interpersonal communications”, FCpl Spencer answered the question “How has being a cadet effected my life?” and FCpl York provided his insight on “The 50th anniversary of the Maple Leaf Flag”. The evening’s competition was divided into two parts: the first being a prepared speech by each cadet (5-6 min), on their respective topic, followed by an impromptu response (2-3 min) to the question “There are many professions/careers to choose from; lawyer, dentist, accountant, social worker, etc. Which appeals to you and why?”. In the end, the cadets performed very well and finishing tops was FCpl Preston York, followed closely by WO2 Reggie Hammond and FCpl Anya Rogers, who together will form the 585 Rideau Air Cadet Squadron Effective Speaking Team. FCpl Stephanie Spen-

cer will remain on the team as an alternate should anyone of the three finalists not be able to attend the Regional competition.

Each cadet volunteered to participate as a means of personal professional development, conducted themselves with great confidence and should be commended for their individual dedication.

The Squadron could not have supported this event entirely on its own, and hence would like to acknowledge the time and efforts of a multitude of volunteers which made the night a tremendous success, providing individual feedback to the cadets and ensuring that the evening was run professionally in all respects.

Specifically, the 585 Rideau Squadron would like to recognize Mr Bruce Cunningham of the RCAFA 443 Wing, Smiths Falls, Ms. Karen Schecter from the Smiths Falls Library and Ms. Carrie Wynne of the Smiths Falls Toastmasters Club for providing their sound judging, Mr. Bill St-Jean, Regional Director of the Air Cadet League of Canada as the evening’s Evaluator, Mrs. Enid Rabb of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 95, Smiths Falls as Time Keeper and Ms. Elsie Stresman of the Canadian Federation of University Women, Perth Branch, as the competition’s Teller.

Major Philippe Legere Military Volunteer 585 Rideau Air Cadet Squadron, Smiths Falls

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The wrinkles in their words

Howaida Sorour-Roberts Words, words, words – they’re everywhere but do they mean what we think? That’s really the issue with marketing or at least it’s one of my pet peeves.

Although its slowly dropping from peeve to

source of amusement and entertainment.

I’m talking about the $2 billion beauty product industry. An industry that should have logically seen a drop during the past few years when incomes took a beating and so many jobs were lost. But it didn’t decline, it just kinda stayed steady at nearly 1% growth.

Yikes, what does that say about us?

I know I can kill a good 15 minutes at a pharmacy just enjoying the creative words that grace beauty products….and usually one of them comes home

with me!

Among my favourites are “Deep Wrinkle Reverse, Complete Defense, Anti-Wrinkle Treatment, Advanced Night Repair, Anti-Aging Action” and it goes on and on.

Of course those are not direct claims. That is not allowed according to Health Canada.

“A cosmetic label contains information that helps consumers make informed choices about the products they use, how to safely use the product, and how to contact the manufacturer if questions arise,” says Health Canada on its

Moving to the Cloud: An example Bryan Mckay Welcome back! And welcome to a new year! In the last three issues I focused mainly on drawing a parallel between the Electric Utilities (the generation of electricity as a utility) and Cloud Computing (the provisioning of computing as a utility), the economic forces driving the shift toward Cloud Computing, and also trying to define Cloud Computing so it’s more relevant to small business. This month I’m going to provide a concrete example and application of Cloud Computing and also introduce the idea that Cloud Computing differs from the utility model in a very important way.

For those of you who work in a small or medium size business, next time you’re in the office look around. Take note of the desktop computers, laptops, printers, servers, network gear and all of the other computing gear. Somebody (or a group of people) in your company had to purchase all of that equipment, negotiate licensing, install the equipment and software, configure it, add users and then maintain it and support the users. Is that the core of your business? Not likely. And yet somehow we all find ourselves in the IT business to some degree whether we want to be there or not. It even happens at home. Despite what we want, it doesn’t “just work.”

There is an alternative that still provides all the benefits of technology without the headache and expense - Cloud Computing. And this month we’re going to work through an example and move to the Cloud.

The simplest and most common examples to look at are email and file management so we’ll start there. The most common setup among small and medium size businesses (less than a few hundred employees) is an email server (MS Exchange), desktop email applications (MS Outlook) and file servers which commonly contain team or shared directories. And we can’t forget about the IT staff or contractors to support it all. How much does all of this cost on an annual basis? That really depends on the size of the business and number of employees but here are some rough figures - each server costs a few thousand dollars, the Windows operating system for the servers could cost a few thousand more, plus the Office software for each employee, and the effort to set it all up - for a staff of 20 that’s probably in the ballpark of $10,000. This is all a capital expenditure (CapEx) to be paid for up-front

(or perhaps through a leasing or financing arrangement) and depreciated over time. Assuming a 5 year financing arrangement plus ongoing maintenance and support (20%) the cost is likely to be in the ballpark of $3000/year for our example company.

I’m not trying to sell Google apps here, but Google apps does provide a good comparison.

So let’s take our same company and staff of 20 and move to the cloud. If we use Google Apps (Google Apps for Work) we have two alternatives - basic at $5/user/month or unlimited at $10/user/month ($50/user/year or $120/ user/year). Even with the basic plan each user will get email and more storage capacity than they could use in years so we’ll go with that.

Include in the package is email, file storage, office apps, video conferencing, mobile support, access to their data anywhere and at anytime, and collaboration tools - all that for a total of $50 x 20 users = $1000 per year (operational expense or OpEx). To get from your existing on-premise email and file servers there are a number of “migration” tools available to help automate the task. No additional hardware or software are required, no support staff are required, no special backup or disaster/recovery plans are required - it’s all part of the service offered by Google. After some initial training and experimentation everyone can be “in the Cloud”. After roughly a month it’s business as usual. And that’s the beauty of Cloud Computing - it’s simple and it “just works”.

Now that the company in our example has made the shift to Cloud Computing they are no longer in the IT business. They are now consumers of “computing as a utility or a service.”

Now that our example company has made the shift to the cloud, have reduced their capital costs and operating expenses, and have provided their users with tools that “just work” and a few new capabilities, they have also reached the point where Cloud Computing differs from the Electric Utility model. In the Electric Utility model, once the electricity is generated, it is distributed and consumed by the end user. In the Cloud Computing model, one key aspect of computing is the storage of data. While computing is provided as a service, your data is now in the Cloud. And that’s our topic next month - your data in the cloud.

website.

Yes Health Canada does have a big say in what beauty products can and cannot claim. But take a look at this: Beauty products can claim that their products slough off dead skin cells, can make skin younger looking or fresher looking or even reduce signs (the visibility) of aging; what they can’t say are things like reverses aging or slows aging or prevent aging or regenerates skin.

Yes it’s a fine line and ladies and gentleman even the most educated and the most intelligent among us have at least one product on our bathroom countertop that while not claiming to prevent aging is definitely hinting, nay suggesting that it does defy aging!

Are we really that gull-

ible folks?

Clearly the companies that make this stuff are pretty convinced we are.

I work with words, I understand their power of suggestion. I understand how one turn of phrase can lead the reader to a completely different conclusion than another. Heaven knows it’s a tool of the communications trade, and a cornerstone of the marketing industry.

But what’s at stake? Well the entire notion of course is to appeal to our emotions, our vanity or more precisely our fear of the single most inevitable reality we live with – the passage of time, the ravages of gravity and cellular decay, and get us to spend our money.

It’s a game and we are

complicit players. But why?

Why can’t we embrace the beauty of aging, and it is beautiful in it’s own way. I remember as a child being utterly fascinated and in awe of a neighbour whose face was deeply crisscrossed with wrinkles. I thought she was beautiful.

Those lines that etched her face represented a map of her entire life to my young mind and I actually wished that if I ever got old (!) I would have wrinkles just like that, and they too would tell the exciting story of my incredible life(!)

Yes and I promised myself I would wear my wrinkles with pride.

Then I hit 40, and then 50 and well that list of beauty product labels I rhymed off back there, well they came off my bathroom counter!

around the community

Grand Opening: Heather’s Studio

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HEATHER’S STUDIO OPENS IN STYLE AT 2 GOULD ST. Heather’s Studio, located at 2 Gould St., was a happening place during their grand opening ceremony on Monday, Jan. 12. Mayor Shawn Pankow (right) was on hand for the grand opening and ribbon cutting, and presented studio owner, Heather Griffith (left), with the Chamber of Commerce Official Plaque to commemorate the moment.

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spotlight on business Are you up to date with your compliance obligations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act?

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Why build your Small Business Brand?

Sherry Crummy What is a brand and why is branding important?

Some entrepreneurs may believe that the word brand is reserved for big businesses and corporations, while others could believe that brand is defined as a name, symbol or design that identifies your goods and services.

The truth is even small businesses need to think about their brand. Your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from your competitors’.

Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be. Who you are should be based to some extent on who your target customers want and need you to be, focus on the benefits of using your business. Think about which of the benefits are emotional – the most powerful brands tap into emotions. A strong brand is fundamental to your business, and must resonate with your existing and potential clients.

Including a branding strategy in your marketing plan is crucial.

Why? Because it personifies your business, delivers your message clearly, increases your credibility, motivates

your clients, and creates loyalty. Branding allows you to take a strong stance within your niche market. Don’t you want your business to be recognised as the best? Applied correctly, your brand can help you achieve that.

How to apply your brand The foundation of your brand is your logo.

It’s not enough to have a recognizable name.

People commonly associate brands with the brand’s logo. As you think about your logo, keep your audience and products/services in mind because you want your logo to reflect your company. A good logo builds trust and a strong logo will help to pull your brand together.

Your brand lives in everyday interactions with your customers, the images you share, the messages you post on your website, the content of your marketing materials, and in your posts on social networks. Basically, it should appear on everything you are using to promote your business.

Ensuring your brand is consistent throughout all your outreach tools encourages your target audience to select you over the competition.

It’s simple: good branding frames your business as the best solution for their needs.

Other areas to check are things such as are

the phones answered consistently? Do you have the same feel to all of your written materials? Does it all match your brand personality?

Your brand is your voice Your brand is the voice of your business. It is something people will recognize, something your target audience will relate to. Your brand is more than a symbol; it conveys emotion or tells a story. Branding is not just graphics and words, it is the bridge toward your business. International brands have successfully paved their way as pillars by using their brand as symbols and offering constant visual repetition, over and over again. With branding, these companies are also offering an experience, one that relates to their business.

A strong brand communicates what your company does, how it does it, and at the same time, establishes trust and credibility. Remember, It’s about applying your values to everything you do, clearly and consistently.

Brand is one of the most important aspects to your business so you need to get it right. Allocate time to really make your brand as good as your business. Make sure to follow my blog for more tips on branding at w w w. c r u m my m e d i a . com.

Did you know that one in seven people in Ontario has a disability and that number is anticipated to rise with the aging population across the province?

Workplaces with 50 or more employees in Ontario had until Jan. 1, 2015 to comply with a training requirement under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). AODA aims to eliminate barriers for Ontarians with disabilities so that they can participate fully in society. The act will achieve this through five standards. The standards are in key areas of daily living: Customer Service, Design of Public Spaces, Employment, Information and Communications, and Transportation. The end result: a fully accessible Ontario by 2025.

What’s required by Jan. 1, 2015 Workplaces with 50 or more employees in Ontario must train employees and volunteers on the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards and the parts of Ontario’s Human Rights Code pertaining to people with disabilities. This training is available online at no cost from the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Workplaces with less than 50 employees have one more year to meet these requirements.

Effective Jan. 1, 2015, the following additional requirements came into effect.

1. IAS Training Large private sector employers (organizations with 50 or more employees in Ontario) must ensure that training is provided on the requirements of the IAS and the Ontario’s Human Rights Code (the “Code”) as it pertains to persons with disabilities. It is important to note that the training required under the IAS is different from the training required in 2012 under the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service.

For organizations with less than 50 employees, training obligations will become effective on January 1, 2016.

2. Feedback Process Large private sector employers that have processes for receiving and responding to feedback (for example, customer surveys) must ensure that the processes are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports.

Organizations with feedback processes are also required to notify the public about the availability of accessible for-

mats and communication supports.

For organizations with less than 50 employees, feedback-related obligations will become effective on January 1, 2016.

3. Self-Service Kiosks As of January 1, 2014, large private sector employers were required to consider the accessibility for persons with disabilities when designing, procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks. A “kiosk” means an interactive electronic terminal, including a pointof-sale device, intended for public use that allows users to access one or more services or products or both..

Effective Jan. 1, 2015, this requirement will apply to organizations with 50 or less employees.

4. Accessibility Policies As of January 1, 2014, large private sector employers were required to develop, implement, and maintain policies governing how they achieve or will achieve accessibility through meeting the requirements of the IAS. The policy must be contained in a written document and include a statement of organizational commitment to meet the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner. Upon request, the policy must be made publicly available and provided in an accessible format.

Effective January 1, 2015, this requirement will apply to organizations with 50 or less employees.

Most notably, effective January 1, 2016, employers will be required to come into compliance with the AODA employment standards, which will involve re-vamping existing human resources practices to explicitly consider and respond to accessibility issues in the workplace relating to, for example, recruitment, accommodation and return-to-work processes.

To learn what requirements apply to you, visit ontario.ca/aodawizard. In just a few minutes, you can generate a personalized list of accessibility standards that apply to your organization.

Submitted by Small Business Advisory Centre Smiths Falls/Lanark County.

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