LIFE • SPACES • PERSONALITIES • ENTERTAINMENT • BUSINESS
LIVINGINBROCKVILLE
DON HERON
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A TRUE LIFE STORY
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town Mag
INSIDE
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FREE Vol 3/Issue 1
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September 2012
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Brockville’s Disappearing Youth
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HUGE VISION
Retail Therapy
Falling for fashion
Local Ink
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LIVINGINBROCKVILLE LIFE • SPACES • PERSONALITIES • ENTERTAINMENT • BUSINESS
INTHISISSUE
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From undercover P.I. to organized crime Montreal's notorious Bordeaux Prison to Brockville. One man's journey back to family and faith.
September2012
Contents
A TRUE LIFE STORY
Don & Monika Heron Photo credit: Mark Lysko
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Brockville’s Disappearing Youth What will the future of Brockville be without our young, vibrant population? Why are the youth leaving our city's future behind?
DEPARTMENTS 8
Local Business
The Collector’s Cove
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Wine With Russ
The Collector’s Cove
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A B R OC K V I L L E V OICE
Is This living in Brockville?
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tiny house HUGE VISION Down sizing from a threestorey, four bedroom to a 1000 sq. ft. one bedroom? We're doing it cottagestyle... cosy, comfortable and perfect for two.
SENIO R M A T T E R S
Economy vs. Health
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O u r B r o c kv i ll e
The Steel Trail
INEVERYISSUE 20 HomeSpaces 24 Retail Therapy 26 Local Ink 27 September Event 28 The O’Grady Files
CONTRIBUTORS Dennis Stein Russ Disotell
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Connie Deir Monica O’Grady
September2012
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EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK
READERCORNER
September’s Editor is local writer, Dennis Stein.
Your pictures, greetings or words of wisdom
Every once in awhile a publication comes along that makes people sit up and take notice. It may be a paper, a magazine,
Submitted by Dennis Stein
or something online that a group of people suddenly connect with, and talk about. We hope that Living in Brockville will do that for our community. We strive to make it a voice of the people of our city, to be a sounding board for their opinions, and to be heard if they have a grievance. The purpose of this magazine going forward is to be informative and entertaining, while discussing important issues within Brockville. We
To the Love of My Life, Mark Lysko Happy Birthday Sparky!
welcome any and all input on matters which readers deem important in our community, and will be offering a community forum for letters in each new issue. Further, we encourage
September 30th
all types of submissions to Living in Brockville, be it articles, photos, or story suggestions. In order for it not to be a glossy showcase of repetitive advertising, all efforts will be made to harvest highly informative and entertaining articles and columns, giving readers the best that our city has to offer, from talented
Tim & Janna Flagg welcome their new edition, Abigail. Congratulations!
individuals. On behalf of everyone at Living in Brockville, I would like to thank Brockville for their support and encouragement. After all, we are Living in Brockville! Dennis Stein
Would you like to be the next ‘Guest Editor’ of Living in Brockville? Contact InGenius Marketing & Design, share your ideas and be a part of Brockville’s original hometown magazine! Email us at: ingenius@ripnet.com
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Living in Brockville is published monthly and distributed free throughout Brockville. Living in Brockville magazine is owned and operated in Brockville and is committed to supporting our community’s independently owned businesses. All residents and business owners in Brockville are welcomed to contribute to Living in Brockville magazine. The publisher assumes no responsibility for opinions expressed and reserves the right to edit or refuse contributions that discriminate or are derogatory. No part of this publication may be reproduced in part or in whole without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. All ads produced remain the property of the publisher, reproduction and reuse of ad copy must be authorized by publisher. The advertiser agrees that the publisher shall not be held liable for damages arising out of errors in advertisements beyond the amount paid for the advertisement, and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement.
September2012
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ONTHECOVER
DON HERON
Written by Alana Lauren Photography: Mark Lysko
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LivinginBrockville
From undercover P.I. to organized crime Montreal's notorious Bordeaux Prison to Brockville. One man's journey back to family and faith.
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My father always told me, “Your life will be full of choices, the secret isn’t always about making the right ones, it’s to learn something valuable from each one. Life doesn’t make us who we are–choices do”. As a child I never really understood what he meant, but as an adult I know; each moment of life offers us choices, our life is determined by what we do with those choices–these moments make us who we are.
A TRUE LIFE STORY Don Heron made choices; some bad–some good, but these are the moments that shaped the man he is today. Husband, father, business man and above all, a man with strong faith. Don’s story is surprising and sometimes shocking, but it’s a true lesson in making choices.
Last year my husband brought home a book, ‘U–turn In The Fast Lane, The True Life Story of Don Heron’. It sat in my office for a few days before I finally found the time to pick it up. It was not what I expected. It was the story of a man who had been involved in organized crime, spent time in prison and had made the struggle from the bottom. Throughout the pages I came to know how choices can change lives. The book is about family, faith and the power of determination to simply do better. Everyday we’re offered choices, and often the easy way seems... well, easier. Don’s story helps us to understand that easy can lead to tough choices and often, the hard way makes us better people. But, this is Don’s story.
September2012
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Don Heron has been a strong force in Brockville for many years. Chairman of the local Economic Development Committee and very active in the community, Don brings his business savvy and experience to every project he undertakes. When you meet him you can see he is passionate about the growth and development of our city and is a straight talking and honest man with a quick sense of humour. I have dealt with Don professionally for a number of years and its not often you catch him without a confident smile and a kind word. What molds people? What makes someone truly outstanding in the face of adversity? Don has faced so many obstacles that would lead so many down a different path. His ‘sorted’ past, surviving cancer and what many would feel are insurmountable challenges. His story is one of choices, family and how faith led him to become a better man. Rebecca Dye Heron wrote U-turn in the fast lane in 2003 after seeing Don (her husband’s cousin) speak at a youth event in downtown Montreal. Rebecca was impressed not only with his story, but more importantly how he was using his experiences to help people facing challenges in their lives. It was several years later that Don approached her to write the book. Don’s story began in Rouyn-Noranda a city on Osisko Lake in “We heard some news that doesn’t make us very happy,” the man growled. “Found out you work for the Quebec provincial police as an undercover agent. You’re reporting all our activities.” Don was stunned. He had lived this scene over and over again in his nightmares. Every dream ended the same way—his lifeless body was taken through the woods, his stiff feet fitted with concrete boots and he was dumped into the St. Lawrence River—no one ever to hear from him again. His mind leapt towards the door, but he forced his body to stay still; forced his eyes to look straight ahead, knowing one false move could mean the realization of his nightmare. U–Turn in the fast lane, By Rebecca Dye Heron
northwestern Quebec. The son of a Baptist minister, Don was surrounded by faith, but he was always a risk-taker seeking out challenges. Monika, Don’s wife, described him in the book as ‘full of confidence- too much confidence, maybe.’ Don and Monika met in grade one and have persevered through many challenges; they have been married for thirty-three years and have two wonderful daughters. “We’ve gone through it all-together.” Monika tells me, “Even at the worst of times I knew there was a good person inside – this wasn’t the real him.” Their marriage is an inspiration in itself and the love between them is obvious. Monika remained faithfully at her husbands side throughout the hard times, “I stayed in Montreal with family during the trial and while Don was in Bordeaux. Our daughter, Erika, was just over a year old at the time and it wasn’t easy being apart, but I never stopped loving him.” Some would say Don made the easy choices, but it’s evident that God had a plan for him from the beginning, “My downfall was a string of bad… easy choices. Mistakes stay with you for life; it’s really what you decide to do about them that can change the outcome. You can learn from them or repeat them – it’s that simple. I made the decision to change my life. It wasn’t easy, I had a lot to atone for but it has made me the person I
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LivinginBrockville
am today. Now I have an opportunity to share my story and maybe help someone else.” After many years with Leon’s, Don has decided to follow his heart and change the course of his life once again. Don is taking on a new challenge; he will be the Area Manager with the ministry begun by his long-time friend, Paul Henderson. “I really felt God was guiding me to this new position, I have had a wonderful career at Leon’s as the manager of both the Brockville and Cornwall locations. The McKercher’s gave me a chance when so many wouldn’t have; it’s very difficult to get a good job with a criminal record. Paul McKercher asked me, ‘would you stay if I asked you to?’ It was a difficult decision but, I feel the ministry is where I need to be now, it will allow me to reach out and touch so many lives.”
He could see into the kitchen from where he sat. The officers were rummaging through cupboards, drawers, the stove and the refrigerator. Close call! Glad I removed the cash-$12,000- hidden in the freezer. It was payment for two stolen cars.U–Turn in the fast lane, By Rebecca Dye Heron
Paul McKercher spoke with me about his friendship and business relationship with Don that has spanned over more than twenty years. “When I met Don and he disclosed his past, I could hear the sincerity in his voice, he had made a mistake and his life was changed. I know that a part of my success is due to the fact that Don puts his heart and soul into everything he undertakes. Don’s attitude is a large part of his success in life, always looking for ways to reach out and make a real difference. I count myself lucky to have him as a friend.”
It was as if Don had been blind, but suddenly he saw things he had never seen before. He wondered about the things he had been living for. What was money, really? Or the excitement he thrived on? Maybe they were distractions, to keep him from thinking bigger-thinking of reality. Maybe they were worse than distractions. Maybe they were deadly. U–Turn in the fast lane, By Rebecca Dye Heron
Don has a unique opportunity, he has been at the crossroads and taken the wrong route, with the experiences he can share he will bring hope to those without ‘hope’. “Other people can learn from my experiences, I owe my life to God and I wanted to bring his encouragement to those who may feel without hope.” Don told me, “We are not alone. I have never felt a need to hide the truth about my past, I am not proud of the choices I made and the people I hurt in the process – but, God has forgiven me and everything I’ve done has prepared me for this next stage in my life.” It’s easy to see that Don and Monika feel God was a guiding force in their lives, “We had the worst judge possible for the sentencing. With thirty-nine charges; six months for each charge - we were looking at a nineteen year prison term. I really believe God intervened, a six month sentence for the crime was nothing short of a miracle”. We can look at Don’s story and make our own assumptions. Was it just a lucky break that things evolved as they did? I have never been an overly religious person, I have a belief in God - but it’s been tempered with confusion. Is a belief in the church as important as my belief in God? I suppose we all have a desire to believe in faith, an all-powerful being that guides us and loves us unconditionally. Times are hard and life’s challenges can lead us to make the wrong choices - easy choices. Religion always hasn’t had a good reputation. At 2:00 p.m. two detectives walked into my office at Youth for Christ. They served me with seventy-eight charges. They asked me to explain how it all happened-off the record. The reality has now hit. (Don’s personal journal)
“God isn’t about ‘the church’ you belong to, it isn’t about where you spend your Sunday...It’s choosing to devote your time here to making a difference every moment of your life,” Don shares, “God is about being good to oneanother. My strong faith is based on my experiences, I accepted God in my life and it changed everything!” Belief is a personal choice, the most important decision you can make is to live your life for others; family, friends or a stranger on the street. Make a difference every moment of your life. I commend Don for his faith, I respect him for the real difference he will make to so many. It’s sometimes much easier to give credit to ‘luck’ Since I’ve been here, I have noticed FTW written on the walls, chairs, doors...In fact, those letters are scratched six inches big into the paint on the inside of my door. The sheet metal under the paint is black, so I have it written in big black letters. Anyway, these letters are always in your face and they stand for “F___ the world” That seems to be the theme in here. (Don’s letter to wife, Monica from Brodeaux Prison) U–Turn in the fast lane, By Rebecca Dye Heron
for good outcomes, to assume we are our own guiding force in life. I, personally, know there is a spirit or a guiding light that is simply there for each and every one of us when we feel we are utterly alone. I hope that Don’s story will inspire you to be a better person no matter what your beliefs might be. My mother always told me, “God is one simple thing - Love.” That has been my guiding force, I hope that is yours. U-Turn, In The Fast Lane is available at Leeds County Books in Brockville. I recommend reading Don’s story, it will inspire you - a true life story here in Brockville. LIB
U–Turn in the fast lane, By Rebecca Dye Heron
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THE OWNER IS IN - LOCALBUSINESS
The Collector’s Cove Downtown Brockville welcomes another independent business, The Collector’s Cove at 28 St. Andrew Street opened in mid-June 2012. Owners, Gale-Ann and John, share their love of collecting and quirky designs through this new business venture. “ I’ve been an avid collector for years and both John and I have always looked for new ways to re-invent items that might be otherwise destined for the landfill.” Gale-Ann tells me, “Collector’s Cove is the perfect way for me to showcase my creative side and Dale gets to do what he loves most… shop.” This heritage brick house, circa 1860, is brimming with fabulous treasures; everything from unique lighting, Depression glass, furniture and a great assortment of GaleAnn’s personal creations. “We’ve been really thrilled with the response since we opened, we’ve not only had many Brockville customers, but quite a few tourists and even antique dealers. The shop is in a constant state of change with new items coming in every week. That’s what has made this business so much fun, you never get bored.” This is a business that you should plan to visit at least once a week, with so many one of a kind treasures you just never know what you’ll find - or what you might miss. I found an incredible chandelier for my new home and it was only $25. Thanks Gale-Ann, I will be back!
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So, as I was saying... it has been a while and it is nice to resume our discussions on wine. This might be the right time for the benefit of new readers and old to go over the rules. There are no rules! So much has changed over the last decade that it is a brave new world when it comes to wine. Barton and Guestier are one of the largest wine companies in France. At one time they may have been the largest supplier of wine to the LCBO. To be kind, they were very pedestrian wines, structurally correct, but not very exciting. I would have never given them a second thought and certainly never purchased one. Flash ahead to 2012 and B&G has had an epiphany. Their Partager Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (CSPC# 251074, $9.95) and Partager Reserve Merlot 2010 (CSPC# 251082, $8.95) are now two of the best values on LCBO shelves. Partager Cabernet has an open, generous nose of smoky blackberry, coffee and oak aromas. A fruit driven wine, it is medium to full bodied in weight and has exceptional balance. Look for berry, plum and dark fruit flavours with a hint of the blackberry from the nose showing through. The fruit is covered by a subtle dusting of savoury spice. The finish is persistent and flavourful. The Merlot offers red currants and strawberry aromas on a simple, inviting nose. Round and elegant it too falls in the medium to full bodied category. It may actually appear to be closer to the full bodied end of the range due to its mouth-filling flavours. Medium soft tannins and good acidity team with the generous fruit to produce great balance. The palate has amazing depth of flavours and an almost creamy quality to it.You can expect cherry, red berry and currant fruit augmented by pleasant coffee/mocha flavours and a slight oakiness. These are perfect reds for barbecue duty. When you move your cooking indoors match with roasted red meats, stews and hearty vegetarian casseroles. The Cabernet is available at both Brockville LCBO, the Merlot at the Shopping Centre store.
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BROCKVILLEINK
Brockville’s Disappearing Youth? We need to talk. I know there are a number of adherents of the old adage that, “Talk is cheap”, but the alternative is daunting. Nothing getting done. Saying “Yes, let’s talk”, opens doors and may lead to opportunities. No, means no and closes the same doors and ends any chance of progress. Brockville has a problem. Okay, Brockville has a number of problems. However, I only have so much column space. Let’s try to deal with one at a time and make some progress. As well let’s try to be constructive. Read the media and the internet or talk to people on the street and you sense a growing frustration with circumstances in Brockville. In too many instances this leads to angry rants and finger pointing. This does nothing to solve the situation. I remember a meeting I attended while working for the LCBO. We were trying to lay out a strategy to cope with growing the Vintages system from one store to six with all its incumbent challenges. Almost immediately our office manager began laying out a list of her grievances. The department chair stopped her and quietly said, “We’re here to find some answers. I don’t need complaints and gripes. That gets us nowhere. We’re looking for solutions.” That’s what I’m trying to do here, facilitate discussion in the hope of finding solutions. Brockville’s youth is leaving the city in alarming numbers. My editor referred to this column as “Brockville’s disappearing youth”, which made me think of a mystery. But there isn’t any mystery. Jobs, jobs, jobs. If there are no jobs available youth have to look elsewhere. Now there will always be youth who set out to launch their working careers elsewhere, it’s a given. We should be concerned and working to find a solution for those
who would like to stay and seeing no opportunities are forced to leave. Many of those who are facing the necessity of relocating are Brockville’s leaders of tomorrow. An organization I volunteer for had an intern who personified everything you would want in an employee and exhibited the skills and drive necessary to become a community leaderbright, driven to succeed, passionate, self-starting, and self reliant. She wants to remain in Brockville. But if she does it will be at a dead-end, minimum wage job. She has looked everywhere, applied everywhere and now commutes to Kingston for a contract position. Not an ideal solution but one she can live with for the time being. To be honest this isn’t only a Brockville problem. Most smaller communities face the same issue. That doesn’t make it any the less critical. We also can’t look to a white knight to ride into town to solve it for us. Federal and provincial governments haven’t solved it for us. If we want an answer we have to do it ourselves. We have to develop a “Made in Brockville” solution. There is a foundation to build on. There are agencies that are trying to help the situation. Councillor Bursey and the EEC are/or have conducted a survey amongst youth to help hone in on their needs and expectations. The Thousand Islands Community Development Corporation has funding to provide non-profit organizations with intern opportunities where local youth can gain valuable work experience. These are only a couple of samples. The problem is that the scope of the situation is beyond the abilities of these organizations. We need a concerted effort that brings all
interested parties and those with the ability to help to the table. I know, I know, I can hear the groans now! It sounds like a lot of effort. It’s a problem that can’t be solved and will always be with us. Pardon me if I disagree. Every problem has a solution. Every one. Even this one! I’m not saying we can provide opportunities for every youth in the community. But I truly believe we can do a better job to address the problem. Because we need to. Urgently! It is no secret that the city has been trying to attract business and industry to Brockville. It would be a fair assessment that it has met with limited success. It seems to me a reasonable conclusion that Brockville is missing something these businesses require, or at least we have less than other communities. This doesn’t seem likely to change in the future. So help isn’t coming on that front. The City of Brockville has a strategy to entice young families to Brockville. Apparently there is research that pinpoints a period in a young family’s life when they are amenable to relocating. Using this as part of their marketing plan the City hopes to convince them that Brockville is the spot for them. I think it’s a great strategy, I just want to take matters a step further and keep youth here or have them return after they leave for university or college. Just in case you think this is only an issue for the younger segment of the population, think again! The “graying” of Brockville will have an adverse effect on the educational system with shrinking enrolments, surplus schools and lower education grants from senior levels of government. Less students means less teachers and even more job losses. Also we have entered the digital age where employers will expect
certain skills, which Brockville won’t have as the workforce ages. If the next generation of employees is in Toronto it doesn’t bode well. So what can we do? As I said at the beginning of this column talking is a good start. It’s time to bring all interested parties to the table. All levels of government, local industry, students, any resources or insights the UCDSB can bring to bear. School guidance councillors should be able to offer some insights. But don’t wait for someone else to act. If this is a concern to you, if you’re a member of the younger generation, a parent or grandparent or a forward thinking citizen then gather a few like minded people and get on with it. If you think this should be a priority for City Hall let them know. Let our MP and MPP know. They serve at the pleasure of the electorate. If enough people agree this is a community concern they should make it their priority. Phone, write or e-mail your city alderman, or the mayor. Individual e-mails and letters sometime go astray so I’d advocate getting together with others and dropping off letters in bulk. If you’re part of an organization do the same. I’m sure they are busy and this will add to the workload, but again, they are there at our pleasure. I believe we have the resources, intellectual and otherwise to find a solution. IQ’s don’t drop once you settle in Brockville. Nor do they rise when you take office that’s why I advocate a wide spectrum of interested groups. An engaged citizenry will go a long way to providing a solution. If you have comments or questions on this issue or you or your organization wish to be part of this process please contact me at brockvilleink@hotmail.com. I will do my best to facilitate interested parties in making contact with each other.
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ABROCKVILLEVOICE
I am angry that I have to pay more at the pumps for gasoline in Brockville. I am angry about the sudden spike in one of the local grocery stores prices for food. I am extremely angry about the rising costs of supplying my home with electricity.
None of these things however, have anything to do with our city. But... $10 for a large item garbage tag, when last year it was $6.00? $300.00 for parking in a handicap spot? (Not that I ever do that, but it kind of sounds like murdering a burglar because you thought you were justified!) No wonder we see couches, mattresses and bags of household garbage strewn in out of the way areas of the city. Meanwhile the city rolls out the red carpet to certain developers in the form of massive tax deferrals to get them building here. Meanwhile dozens of storefronts on King St. remain empty, ones that used to house many shops and services unique to our city, as opposed to franchises. Why do absentee landlords receive tax breaks for keeping their King Street locations empty? These prime retail storefronts become eyesores in our downtown. Is it right that neighbouring businesses lose value to enable a Toronto landlord a tax-break? When did Brockville business owners become second-class in our community? Can’t get the streets ploughed of snow in the winter thanks to budget cuts, but numerous police staff make over $100K per year, the same or better than Metro Toronto police officers. I work a darn good job and still don’t make that amount, even with overtime. It seems to me that the citizens of our city are being extorted. Just once I would like to see the price of something here actually go DOWN. We have a real need in Brockville. Jobs. This city cannot survive as a retirement community. Nor can it afford to support the young or middle-aged on Social Services. Businesses pull up stakes daily as a result of increased taxes and/or rents, lowering the number of jobs available for the working class. It is fairly simple math, fewer jobs
in Brockville? equals less money spent locally, equals even fewer jobs because even small business has a hard time surviving here. How about some simple incentives here for crying out loud. Brockville HAD a huge industry base, which provided jobs, and contributed to the city’s coffers themselves through taxes. It is not only young people who need jobs here either. Many people even beyond retirement age still continue to need small jobs to supplement their income to make ends meet. Good pensions and benefits have largely become a thing of the past, very difficult to get anymore. Events in our city are another sore spot of mine. At its height, Riverfest’s ten days brought 50,000 people a day through its gates on Blockhouse Island, featuring a large Family Fishing Derby, the ever-popular beer tent, along with nonstop live entertainment, which did not have to be big names to make the event great. (Lower entrance costs sure helped too!) In the tragic end, who wanted to pay $10 dollars per day to get in, and extra that night to see the big name concert, all to walk around Blockhouse to see a couple of small food and beverage tents which included Tim Horton’s, and the small midway. Yep, scratch that one off my list of summer fun...Oops, never mind, it is all gone this year, the City’s purse strings were too tight this year supposedly to hold ANY kind of festival for the citizens of Brockville. Don’t get me wrong, I realize that these kind of events take massive amounts of planning to pull off, but it took a charitable organization to show the city how to throw an awesome summer event in August, and not charge anyone a dime to come down and enjoy it... I cannot be a continuous cynic. I applaud the water park next to King St. where the bike path passes underneath near Leon’s. The very day it was up and running, at least two dozen kids cooled off from the summer heat as I walked past. It was a long time coming, though. I guess overall I am stating that in several key areas of our city government, we NEED a changing of the guard. We need a change of thought about how things get done, and what we need to accomplish. To successfully move forward in the 21st century, we need a team of people leading Brockville who think like NASA, re-inventing the wheel to bring improvement and prosperity, not a bunch of bankers, who keep wanting to take, and giving nothing back but excuses... I am angry, living in Brockville, such a wonderful community with so much potential and uncertainty. Dennis Stein Have your Brockville Voice heard. Send us your commentary and we will
allow you, a Brockville voice, to be heard! Please submit your opinion as a Word Document (unformatted - 750 words or less) or email to ingenius@
ripnet.com. (subject line: A Brockville Voice) You must include your name and contact information including, email & phone number (only your name will
appear in print). InGenius Publishing assumes no responsibilty for opinions expressed.
Ashley
interiors
Photos courtesy of Glyn Davies
Dining Room
where “Colour Is Key”
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7712 Kent Blvd, Unit 8 & 9, Brockville
Ashley 613-342-0586
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HOMESPACES
tiny house
HUGE VISION Article & Design by Connie Deir (Connie’s Stage Right, King Street, Brockville)
“My favourite part of decorating is using things I find at local shops, the adventure is in the search for that perfect piece!”
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The headboard is a recycled shutter that the homeowner had in her garden. With the sloped ceiling a contemporary headboard didn’t fit. This option works perfectly for the Urban Cottage look.
D
ownsizing can be overwhelming! This summer the homeowner moved from a three-storey home to a tiny onebedroom. How do you fit 2,500 square feet of furniture into 1000 square feet and make it home? Start with multiple trips to recycle depots, careful planning and nine trips to the dump!
“Our house was far too large for new ‘empty-nesters’ and had the disadvantage of no back yard. We decided on the top priorities; a big kitchen (my husband loves to cook), a private backyard, garage for storage and a room for a dedicated home office - above all, it had to have character and potential.” The home they found filled all the requirements and the couple simply fell in love! With the help of their realtor, Monica O’Grady (Reality Source) their home sold in one day! Within a few weeks they were on our way to moving into a ‘little’ piece of heaven.
“In the process of stripping multitudes of wallpaper I discovered that this small house had hidden treasures. Original bead board walls, pine floors and so much more.” We’re going to redesign-redecorate and recycle our new space from tiny to tremendous in less than twelve months with a budget of less than $10,000 (for the entire house) This will be a ‘real-life’ renovation. Cheap can be chic and with the professional assistance (Connie’s Stage Right, Brockville) we’ll show you how to decorate ‘on-a-dime’.
local shops have it all
$
We’re starting this makeover with the bedroom. This house really only has one bedroom so we made the best use of all the space. The queen-sized bed was a must and storage is always key, so we opted for one large dresser and one tall-boy to house our wardrobe. The larger dresser had a great distressed finish that worked well and the smaller dresser had great lines so we left it natural. The curtains and coverlet were chosen carefully to go together without matching too much - staying with the cottage theme. An area rug adds a bit of texture to this small space but stays within the neutral colour palette and the walls were painted a warm coffee with white trim.
the result:
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We incorporated a lot of the home owner’s favourite collectibles and introduced accent pieces in silver, such as lamps, clocks, picture frames and an antique tea pot.
my sources Connie’s Stage Right The Collector’s Cove The Habitat Re-Store Custom Decor Floor & Wall
before
Green Things
Duvet Cover Coverlet Paint Curtains Shutter (headboard) Misc Décor Total:
One of my favourite finds? A whicker rocker from the local ReStore. Four pieces, including two rocking chairs, an armchair & side table for $72.00. These pieces were calling my name. Cottage style & functional.
$38.98 $69.99 $35.00 $30,03 $15.00 $54.00 $243.00
The salvaged shutter makes a great headboard. It was attached directly to the wall and finished with a coat of ‘matt’ varnish to seal in the original paint. The new cottage style doesn’t mean a cluttered space filled with lace and floral prints, it’s simply cosy, comfortable and above-all functional. With a small budget you can still have big results, this room was completed for under $250.
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Silver, both old and new, was added to this small space as accent pieces. It works well with the cottage style and doesn’t overwhelm the décor. Check out local antique & collectible shops for vintage pieces or a local home décor store.
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1. Tile in style for a personal look Ashley Interiors, 7712 Kent Blvd.
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2. Comfort made easy Leon’s Furniture, 260 King St. W. 3. The finishing touch for your draperies Ashley Interiors, 7712 Kent Blvd. 4. Solid wood jewellery chest The New Oak Tree, 26 King St. E. 5. Smart Stand carpet Tile Tech Flooring, 3506 Coon’s Road 6. Handmade rugs Connie’s Stage Right, King Street W. 7. Curl up and relax in the perfect chair Leon’s Furniture, 260 King St. W.
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8. Add some comfort to your room Custom Decor Carpet One, 3011 Hwy #29 9. Have a custom backsplash Tile Tech Flooring, 3506 Coon’s Road
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10. The perfect set Collector’s Cove, St. Andrew Street 11. Beautiful flooring - beautiful results Brockville Wood Products, 1185 California Ave. 12. Cottage Chic Connie’s Stage Right, 185 King St. West 13. Shade-o-matic blinds Floor & Wall Centre, 7758 Kent Blvd. 14. Silver service The Collector’s Cove, 28 St. Andrew Street
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15. An instant mudroom The New Oak Tree, 26 King St. East
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16. Recline in style, you choose the wood and finish The New Oak Tree, 26 King St. East 17. Lamps for every decor Leon’s Furniture, 260 King St. West
September2012
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SENIORMATTERS “Whether your child is 5 or 55, they are still your child and family is still the most important thing”, Emily explains, “When my son lost his job he really had nowhere else to turn for help, I helped him financially with money from my retirement fund until he could get back on his feet. The stress of his situation affected me everyday, it was very difficult.” Emily’s daughter, Sharon was also laid-off from a retail job when her employer went out of business. “Sharon was lucky, she was able to get help from the Second Career Program and now works as a Nurses Aid, but the stress of finances led to a divorce and she was forced to move out west to find a good job that allowed her to raise my two grand children on her own.” Emily is only one of the many Canadian seniors dealing with the effects of the economy since the downturn in 2008. “It’s the little things you have to give up, but sometimes you find those may be more important than you thought.”, Emily continues, “I used to spend winters in Florida with friends, but I’ve had to stay at home for the last few years. I had hoped to move into a condominium closer to my son and his family, but the costs are simply too high right now. The summer months are OK but during the colder months I find it difficult to get out to doctor’s appointments and often I find I just put things off. Ben tries to help as much as he can but with his new job the hours are longer and the pay is less, his wife is also working full time too, so they just can’t spend as much time with me as they would like to.”
Economy VS. Health? The Reality of Today’s Retirement Each of us is aging. And as a population, Canada is aging faster than ever before. Women and men experience aging in different ways and women far outnumber men in the oldest age categories (80-plus). For both men and women, there are significant differences between life at age 65, 75 and 85-plus. It’s a fact that during an economic downturn the health of seniors is greatly affected. Stress related to financial concerns reverberate through all levels of the family structure, even if a senior’s financial situation is stable, their children may be experiencing an upheaval due to job loss and often require assistance from aging parents. Emily Durham*, a 72 year old widow has two grown children, and five grandchildren. Her son, Ben(52) and her daughter, Sharon(48) have both been affected by the bad economy. Ben Durham was laid off from his job after fourteen years in a management position, “The down sizing of our company meant the elimination of some management positions. I did receive a severance package, but I had a really hard time finding any kind of work and I knew I would never find anything that equaled my former job. It didn’t take long before we were dipping into our meagre savings just to pay the bills. We considered selling the house, but without a job we wouldn’t qualify for a mortgage on a new home and rent was significantly higher than our modest mortgage payments. We knew we had to hold onto the house, my mother offered and although it was hard - we felt we had to accept her offer.”
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Many aging Canadians are watching their grown children adjust to the economic downturn,their retirement plans often set aside to help family members and unfortunately, their health suffers. Family members are unable to spend time with aging parents and health issues can be overlooked until they become serious, this was the case with Emily. “I had been feeling a bit out-of-sorts for a few days, I figured I was just tired. I didn’t want Ben to worry about me so I didn’t mention anything to him and didn’t go to my doctor right away. I suffered a small stroke a couple of days later, it was very frightening.” Emily is lucky though, with a referral from a friend facing a similar situation she made a connection with Bayshore’s ‘My Home Care Nurse’ service. The service is customized to fit your needs for in-home health management. Through this innovative program you can arrange for regular monthly or quarterly home visits by a nurse. They can assist you with medications, health concerns and issues or managing conditions such as diabetes, nutrition and physical assessment. ‘My Home Care Nurse’ provides seniors and their families with peace-of-mind. It’s a great service for anyone who wishes to receive health check-ups and management in the comfort of their own home. “We’re dedicated to our clients. Establishing long-term relationships based on trust has made it possible for many Canadians to remain independent and at home for much longer.” Anita Fitches stated, “That is one goal of Bayshore Home Health, to empower people with the ability to retain dignity and independence. Isn’t that what we all hope for as we journey through life?” “I don’t feel as isolated as before, ‘My Home Care Nurse’ comes every month and if I have an urgent health concern I know I can contact them anytime. I know Ben and Sharon are relieved to know I am being visited regularly and we’ve even been able to make some life-style choices that will enable me to stay independent longer.”
What is today used by cyclists, dog-walkers, and children began in some areas as the Brockville and Westport Railway. The 6 Km of the aptly named Brock Trail wind through Brockville following Butler’s Creek, upon part of the old roadbed of this historic railway line. Started in 1884, and making its final run in 1952, The Brockville and Westport was originally supposed to be a much more ambitious project than it ended up being. The intent was to have rail service all the way to Sault St. Marie, but the costs associated with building the rail line shortened it to Westport. The first passenger train left Westport for Brockville in 1888, the track joining the Grand Truck Rail lines to get into town. A trestle bridge was eventually built over top of the Grand Trunk line, where the Brockville Country Club is now, connecting to the Church St. Station, and further down to the rail yards at the waterfront. Jones’ Mill, which still stands, is at the very south end of the path, and its logging ponds were removed to put in the rail line around 1884. Regular passenger service ran between Brockville and Westport, but eventually, the cost of running the rail line became too much, and the railway went into receivership. In the early 20’s, The Brockville and Westport eventually ended up as a part of the newly amalgamated Canadian National Railways. In October of 1952, a special train made a last run from Westport to Brockville to pick up any equipment left along the line. It was then abandoned and later dismantled. Old railway ties can still be seen near Church St. alongside the path, left over evidence from the past, now overgrown with mosses.
tying in city parks, and quiet shaded areas. The gurgling creek is always present, flowing swiftly with the spring runoff, and slowly by the end of summer. It houses fish, turtles, frogs and waterfowl, along with a myriad of plant life. Many residents have helped with the cultivation of the Brock Trail, as almost an extension of their backyard, clearing brush and planting perennials at times right up to the shore of the creek. Ducks are ever present along the way, even during the winter months, and nest with young along the creek banks in early summer. I personally enjoy walks along the path, and it becomes functional to me as well. There is little sense of even starting our truck for a trip down to Metro for a few needed items for dinner, when a pleasant walk of 15 minutes takes me there and back. It is a much better way to spend time than waiting for traffic, and burning By : Dennis Stein expensive fuel. It is great exercise, and a ‘free’ entertainment to walk with your family, a friend, or even by yourself.
The Steel Trail
Further north along the bicycle path, in some areas especially in the summer months, the city seems to disappear, as you walk through areas with hanging wild vines and thick undergrowth, even though you are really walking almost right behind homes and businesses. It becomes almost jungle in some areas, and wildlife can usually be spotted on any given day. Bridges occasionally cross the creek, and the city parks staff have done a fabulous job with cement planters, flower beds, and park benches along the way. Planted trees serve as memorials, all decorated with small plaques to immortalize the beloved departed, and tablets with various interesting historical facts line the way in spots. The scenic Brock Trail takes people from Brockville’s waterfront, and through the city to its north end, passing residences and businesses alike,
Next time you are looking for something to do that doesn’t cost a thing, try walking the Brock Trail, there is always something to see, you don’t have to worry about parking to see one of our downtown events, and it will fit in with anyone’s fitness level. We all seem to be looking for ways to exercise and relieve stress these days, and a good walk to get your blood pumping on the Trail is the perfect answer…
Gallery Showroom
Solid Wood • Solid Service • Solid Quality
Quality Hand-crafted, One-of-a-kind Heirlooms • You Select the Wood, the Stain & the Size
Locally Owned & Operated Come Visit Our 9000 sq. ft. Gallery Showroom 26 King Street East, Downtown Brockville • 613-865-7566 • www.thenewoaktree.com
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1. Out of Print T-shirts & Bags Leeds County Books, 2. Transition your wardrobe Echo Clothing Co. 3. Chic, sexy & comfortable Pauline’s Lingerie, 4. Haut for Back to School Echo Clothing Co. 5. Tribal for sophisticated style Echo Clothing Co. 6. Accessorize in style SAVVY Shoes 7. The perfect bag? SAVVY Shoes
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8. Lace it up in leather SAVVY Shoes 9. Big on Buckles for Fall SAVVY Shoes 10. Bring on bodices browns Pauline’s Lingerie
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11. Falling for the layered look Echo Clothing Co. 12. Silver jeans it like a dream Echo Clothing Co. 13. Bold colours for back to school Echo Clothing Co. 14. Tall for Fall in boots SAVVY Shoes 15. Buckles & studs on boots SAVVY Shoes
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LOCALINK
U-TURN IN THE FAST LANE By Rebecca Dye Heron Joshua Press. 171 pages. ISBN 1 894400 18 6 (Distributed in the UK by Evangelical Press)
/foTos PHoTo: roYale van eCk; BY JaniCe Cover design
BY
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U-turn t lane in the fas
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Antwerp, becca and
Heron Rebecca Dye BiograPH
This well-produced book about Don Heron is nice to handle and very readable. Its striking cover says: ‘One man’s journey back to God - Stolen cars. Fast money. Espionage - With crime and money enveloping his life, Don thought he was invincible. Then came a sharp knock at the door. An early-morning arrest was the beginning of a whole new chapter - one that would gradually lead him back to God. But Don had to face his past ƒ and serve time in Montreal’s notorious Bordeaux Prison.’
165 King Street West, Brockville 613-498-9898
We’re Celebrating Our Five Year Anniversary Full Service Salon • Waxing Open Tuesday - Sunday by appointment
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Compulsive reading! I was gripped and thirsty for the next chapter. Yet, this is sane and solid, not sensationalist. Heron’s gospel - preaching father witnesses his son’s graduation from clandestine industrial espionage, through property and insurance, to criminally trading expensive stolen cars.
• Nursing • Personal Care • Home Support • Companionship • Funding Investigations • Free Assessments • Nurse Supervised Staff • 24 Hour/7 Day Service
We learn early of Don’s rejected Christian background. Bite-sized chapters reveal this prodigal’s past, his loving wife’s sadness, his abandonment of God, the power of parental testimony, and prison as a crucible of his faith. During long uncertainty after initial police enquiries, Heron comes back to Christ. His life starts to change. Then he is charged on 78 counts, later reduced to 38. His Christian lawyer’s mitigation, after guilty pleas, reflects his changed life. Don serves just two months of a surprisingly short six months’ sentence. His factual account of that two months’ imprisonment takes the lid off prison life. Don Heron learns he has thyroid cancer, causing surgery, treatment and uncertainty. His trust is now in the One who made him take that ‘U-turn in the fast lane’. Gerard A. Chrispin, Director of Day One Prison Ministries
Pick up your copy of this great local story at Leeds County Books, 73 King Street West, Downtown Brockville.
Better care for a better life
Home care designed especially for you Our clients say it’s the compassion and professionalism of our caregivers that makes the difference – and allows them to live with independence and dignity in the comfort of their own homes. Find out how a personalized care plan can help you or your loved one.
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613.345.3371 / 1.866.227.3133 www.bayshore.ca Bayshore Home Health has been enhancing the quality of life, dignity and independence of Canadians in their homes since 1966. Canadian owned and operated, we are the country’s largest provider of home and community health care services, with more than 40 locations and 8,000 employees.
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DONOTMISSEVENT
Thousand Islands Writers Festival 2012 Wednesday October 10th to Saturday October 13th
This year TIWF is expanding to a four-day festival. This means more authors, more events, more readings and more opportunities to “Celebrate the power of the written word”. The Festival kicks off on October 10th with Brian Francis. His first novel Fruit was a CBC Canada Reads Finalist in 2009. His latest novel Natural Order has elicited reviewers’ raves and favourable comparisons to some of Canlit’s best writers, such as Margaret Laurence. The first author to confirm her attendance was Lilian Nattel. Her 2000 novel, The River Midnight, was awarded the Martin & Beatrice Fischer Prize for Fiction. Her new novel, Web of Angels, explores the reality of people living with DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder (what used to be called multiple personality disorder). Her story of Sharon Lewis and her fictional Toronto neighbourhood and neighbours has been garnering high praise. Elizabeth Hay will be reading with Lilian on Thursday October 11th. The popular Ottawa author and Giller Prize winner for Late Nights On Air will be reading from her current bestseller, Alone In the Classroom. This year our Friday evening readings will be devoted to authors of new volumes on the War of 1812. Dr. David Butters’ The Insolent Enemy, is a biography of Captain Benjamin Forsythe, one of America’s first military heroes of the War. Of particular interest to local readers
Brockville 260 King St. W. 613-345-4889
is the fact that Forsythe was the leader of the 1812 raid on Gananogue and the 1813 attack on Elizabethtown (as Brockville was known then). James Laxer’s, Tecumseh and Brock, tells the story of the unlikely friendship and political alliance between Tecumseh, the Shawnee chief and charismatic leader of the native confederacy and Major-General Isaac Brock, defender and protector of the British Crown and how this alliance secured what would become the nation of Canada. Saturday means our Murder at the Courthouse/Words and Wine event held at the Brockville Courthouse. This year Peggy Blair will be attending. If you don’t recognize her name, that’s because she is a first-time author, bursting on to the scene with The Beggar’s Opera, her tale of a murder case in Havana, Cuba and the unforgettable Inspector Ricardo Ramirez. The Beggar’s Opera won Best Mystery/ Thriller in the recent 2012 CBC Bookie Awards . Our second presenter on Saturday, DJ McIntosh is also a first-time author and her novel The Witch of Babylon has spent many weeks in the top ten list of Canadian bestsellers. The National Post called it, “A book so good, everyone should buy it twice.” The day finishes with wine and cheese in the Atrium and a chance to talk to the authors.
Kingston 2730 Princess St 613-384-2418
Cornwall 1360 Marleau Avenue 613-932-2684
w w w. l e o n s . c a
Everyone at Leon’s would like to thank Don Heron for his dedicated service to our company and to wish him much success in all his future endeavours. Don, you are a true inspiration to all of us and a great friend. (L-R) Don Heron, Mark McKercher, Terry Leon, Paul McKercher, Peter McKercher
Come in and visit our reclining chair gallery.
Looking for a new mattress or bedroom set? We carry the largest selection of Top Brand Names.
September2012
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THEO’GRADYFILES
This Woman’s Life with the (why?) “Y” Chromosome By Monica O’Grady starts ringing. They just keep calling nonstop. When able - I call back, and they are upset that I did not answer. Again, repeating myself, I tell them that I CANNOT answer the phone while having a manicure because my hands are otherwise occupied. This happens every time! The emergency, I ask?
The ‘Y’ chromosome? Why is it obvious that you mention something a hundred times with no reaction (they’re not listening) and then one day the topic comes up- and they ask... ”Why haven’t you ever told me that before?” A perfect example? My twenty-five year old son has been in Europe all summer. I was talking to him on Skype the other day while he was in Italy. I. (for the 100th time, I’m sure) said “You know, you have some Italian blood in you” My great grandmother was Italian. He answers, “Why is this is the first time I’ve ever heard this” The main word here is “heard”, not listening. Why do I remember countless times through school when he had to do a family tree and I mentioned it. Needless to say this summer he had made some Italian friends and was pleasantly able to tell them that he did have Italian in his bloodline. Why is it? - I’m sure many, many women can relate. I’m leaving the house, and tell everyone, I mean everyone, that I’m going to have a manicure. Without fail- within ten minutes, as my hands are soaking at the salon- my cellphone
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“Where is the ketchup?, What are we having for dinner? But I’m hungry now! When are you coming home? The dog peed on the floor. Can I borrow $20? Do you know where my iPod is? Can I borrow your car cause mine is dirty? Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving- I needed a ride? I need you to come home right now to shave the back of my neck? Did you wash my green shirt I was wearing yesterday yet? Or my all time favourite Where are you?
Seriously??? None of those things can wait one hour while I go for some personal updating? Then you start questioning yourself. Did I not tell them I was leaving? Did I not put the ketchup back in the fridge where it always is? Did I steal the iPod? Did I dirty their car? Did I pee on the floor? Did I wear the green shirt? No, of course not! They just nodded while listening, but did not hear anything, as usual. If it does not involve them at that moment- they figure a nod will just stop that background yammering! This is my life with the ‘why’ Y chromosome. Monica O’Grady shares her busy life with three sons and a husband (they all share the Y Chromosome) she just lives with it...
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Our Biggest One Ever! Five Local Shops One Fabulous Weekend
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Door Prizes & Refreshments
Open House Continues Saturday & Sunday
75 William Street (at Brock St.) 613-345-5270 www.casualliving.ca
39 King Street West, Downtown Brockville 613-342-5631 www.limestoneandivy.com
83 King Street West, Downtown Brockville 613-342-3443
26 King Street Eest, Downtown Brockville 613-865-7566 www.thenewoaktree.com
Maplehurst Manor
COUNTRY INN
and Reception Centre
1258 County Road 2, Maitland • 613-348-1892 • maplehurstmanor.com
Photos courtesy of Glyn Davies
Maplehurst Manor is a magnificent Victorian Mansion overlooking the beautiful St. Lawrence River. Built in 1827, Maplehurst Manor offers three spacious and authentic Victorian-style suites with private baths, a grand dining room and private meeting room.
Your Dream Wedding
Imagine your wedding day filled with elegance and grandeur, from intimate elopements to outdoor ceremonies with up to 150 special guests, this beautiful Victorian Mansion will provide a stunning backdrop for your special day. The Carriage House can provide indoor space for 100 guests.
Business, Events & Retreats Maplehurst Manor, with its grand dining room and bar that convert into a private meeting room and The Carriage House both having access to the large kitchen makes it easy for catering services and provides an excellent location for business meetings, family and friends reunions & group events.
Décor courtesy of
Ashley
interiors
All That’s Missing Is You