The Journal - Thursday, December 17th 2020

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VOL. 20 NO. 41

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2020

HUDSON, ST. LAZARE // VAUDREUIL-DORION, RIGAUD, PINCOURT, ÎLE-PERROT, N.D.I.P. & SAINTE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE

PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

City in colour The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion continues its efforts to improve access to artistic production and encourage citizen participation and cultural expression

and recently unveiled a new mural that adorns the side of a building at 198 Avenue Saint-Charles. The mural was painted by artist Monk.e from ASHOP who also

Inside

conceived and helped to paint the water tower near Harwood Boulevard last year and the rectangular artwork at the left is by artist Monica Brinkman.

“Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change.” – Barbara Januszkiewicz

Clock runs out for Rigaud seniors’ home

3

Tax freeze in Hudson for 2021

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No increase for residential tax in Vaudreuil-Dorion

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Property tax status quo for Saint-Lazare in 2021

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THE JOURNAL

Thursday, December 17, 2020

No help for Maison des Anges Blancs Nick Zacharias

The Journal

As reported in The Journal on November 26, a small, private seniors’ residence in Rigaud called Maison des Anges Blancs has been ordered to cease operations, forcing residents and their families to scramble for new accommodations. The Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la MontérégieCentre (CISSS-MC) has imposed a December 18 deadline for residents to be out of the home. Owner Brenda Samson says it’s been impossible to meet CISSS requirements; the issues at stake are a certification she has but needs to update, and upgrades for some exterior doors. Both have proven difficult to address during the pandemic. Samson says she is on a waiting list for the certification but has no start date due to COVID-19.

Trying for change Moved by the story in The Journal, Rigaud resident Joanne Ward decided to do something. She started a petition on Change.org, now up to over 600 signatures, to ask Soulanges MNA Marilyne Picard and the CISSS to consider the wishes and wellbeing of the residents, to avoid dangerous disruption in their lives, and grant Samson more time to get her renovations and recertification completed.

“I first posted about the story on a Facebook group in Rigaud,” said Ward, “and so many people said we should write our MNA and ask her for help. I decided it made sense to start a petition.”

Ward says she hasn’t done a lot of community activism. “It just struck a chord. My parents have passed, but my mother-in-law spent some time at the (CHSLD) Herron before all the terrible things happened there with COVID-19, and it just seemed crazy to shut down a nice, family-atmosphere place like this when the residents and their families would rather stay. And right in the middle of the pandemic when it could be dangerous for them to relocate, with short notice and a week before Christmas. It seems nuts.”

Alternatives hard to find Ward wrote in her letter that it seems larger residences have been allowed to remain open in spite of much longer and more serious lists of infractions. She also stressed that with the system currently under strain, finding alternative homes will prove difficult, especially ones where the residents can receive services in English. One of the alternatives on a list given to families was the CHSLD Herron in Dorval, itself shutting down while mired in a class action lawsuit and accusations of negligence after staff abandoned the

facility during the COVID-19 outbreak in March-April, reportedly leading to dozens of deaths.

Moving against their will While the four residents at the small home all said they want to stay, with the December 18 deadline now upon them, they’ve had to prepare to be pushed out. Ward says the families of the residents all got calls from the CISSS. “They said the tone was almost threatening; the CISSS told them if the residents aren’t out by Friday, ‘We’re coming to relocate them.’”

Two residents left the home this week; both are temporarily staying with family while they try to find new places to live with the level of care they need.

Resident Frank Nagy has Alzheimer’s and his daughter Kristina has said he’d suffer immensely from the upheaval if he’s forced into solitary quarantine – dementia patients depend on routine and familiar people. Until Thursday, Samson says he’ll still be at the residence and after that he’ll move in with his daughter, even though she doesn’t feel her home is well suited for him, because she hasn’t been able to find a place that works.

Marilyne Picard declined a request for an interview, referring The Journal to the CISSS. The media office of the CISSS-MC responded from Longueuil to say, “La Maison des Anges Blancs will

THE JOURNAL FILE PHOTO/NICK ZACHARIAS

Frank Nagy, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and lives at Maison des Anges Blancs in Rigaud, gives residence owner Brenda Samson an affectionate embrace. The warm moment contrasts starkly with his daughter Kristina’s fears for his wellbeing when he’s forced to leave his caring environment.

cease its activities as a private seniors’ residence… We assure you that support is provided to residents requiring relocation.”

Approved for lesser care Andrew Dzurobka, the only fully autonomous resident, plans to stay with Samson as a private boarder after the deadline. Because he doesn’t need help like the others, Samson says they’ve received approval from a social worker at the CLSC to continue with their current arrangement.

Continued on page 10

Reducing our carbon footprint, one tiny footprint at a time.

PHOTO BY NICK ZACHARIAS

In spite of efforts by the owner and pleas from residents, their families, nurses, and over 600 petitioners, Maison des Anges Blancs in Rigaud has been ordered to cease operations as a private residence for semi-autonomous seniors as of December 18.

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

THE JOURNAL

3

Photo of the week

Photo of the year!

EDITOR’S CORNER

2nd place winner

Call for common sense Kudos to the many town councils in our region who have worked to ensure residents are not hit with a major tax increase for the coming year. It’s a gross understatement to say that 2020 was exceedingly difficult for many who’ve lost employment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Donations to charities across Canada are down this year a reported 37 per cent and many of the seasonal galas that raise funds for area initiatives have been cancelled. In recognition of this hard work, the tax freeze means residents have one less worry to face in 2021.

Too bad the same degree of creative thinking and cooperation could not be extended to the owner of the small, private seniors’ residence in Rigaud who has been trying to comply with the demands placed upon her by the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de la Montérégie-Centre (CISSS-MC) (See story on page 3.)

Though the owner has encountered setbacks in acquiring necessary training upgrades and hiring tradespeople to complete certain jobs – understandable during a global pandemic – the powers that be are ordering the home’s closure at the end of this week.

Right before Christmas, the families of vulnerable seniors are being told their loved ones will be displaced even though they’re happy at the facility and the owner has shown every intention of working with the governing bodies to meet the upgrade requirements.

This is not the time to be shifting people around as if they’re warehouse stock, especially in light of what we’ve seen seniors go through this past year. As a society, we should be able to rely on our elected officials and health networks to exercise flexibility and common-sense as opposed to the rigid letter of the law.

The Journal PUBLISHER: EDITOR: JOURNALIST: STAFF WRITER: COLUMNISTS:

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THE JOURNAL

Thursday, December 17, 2020

PHOTO BY ALI NADEAU

Our Photo of the Year contest has wrapped up and what a year it’s been. Perhaps because of the pandemic outbreak, the amount of spectacular submissions significantly increased and was something to look forward to each week.

Our second place winner is Hudson resident Ali Nadeau whose photo of the scenery of Moraine Lake in Alberta was chosen by contest judge Steve Charland of Régate Kia Valleyfield. For our first place winner, be sure to pick up the next copy of The Journal just before the holiday break.

Due to its popularity, our contest will definitely be back in 2021. Happy snapping!

Dear Editor: editor@yourlocaljournal.ca Open letter from our MP Peter Schiefke Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced Health Canada’s authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine. Canada will receive up to 249,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine by the end of December 2020.

The first doses to arrive are a part of the 76 million doses that Canada has obtained under its current agreement with Pfizer. We will begin by vaccinating the most vulnerable members of society.

The vaccine’s availability will continue throughout the year, ultimately providing every Canadian with the opportunity to get vaccinated. To date, Canada has secured the most diverse portfolio of vaccines and the most number of doses per capita in the world – putting Canada at the front of the pack to receive the vaccine. By purchasing from several different sources, we have ensured greater security and added flexibility in rolling out such a large-scale vaccination campaign.

That said, the Pfizer vaccine poses significant challenges for distribution as it must be transported and stored at less than -70 degrees Celsius. Currently, Pfizer, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and all Provinces and Territories are working together to finalize preparation efforts, including training on handling the product.

I want to assure you that all vaccine candidates must undergo stringent pre-clinical and clinical tri-

als. Health Canada will continue to review evidence of each candidate vaccine’s safety, efficacy, and manufacturing quality as it becomes available. I want to be clear here in saying that Health Canada’s approval systems are among the very best in the world. We have a rigorous scientific review system in place, and absolutely no step in the evaluation process will be skipped. You can be assured that all vaccines approved for distribution are both safe and effective.

I know that it is hard right now to be unable to see family and friends. I certainly know that it will be hard to limit our activities for the holidays. Still, we are finally starting to see the finish line. I won’t lie; we are not out of the woods yet. Things will likely worsen before they get better; however, this news is an added motivation for us all to continue respecting public health rules to limit the spread of the virus.

As throughout this pandemic, I will continue to keep you informed every step of the way.

As always, do not hesitate to contact my team and me if you have any questions or comments. You can reach us by email at Peter.Schiefke@parl.gc.ca or by phone at (450) 510-2305.

On that note, stay healthy and safe, Peter Schiefke Member of Parliament Vaudreuil-Soulanges Continued on page 10

Errata

In the December 10 edition of The Journal on page 1 and page 3, the photo captions erroneously stated that the building currently under construction in Hudson behind the former National Bank branch on Main Road was a mixed commercial/residential property. In fact, the building is entirely for commercial use.

In the December 10 edition of The Journal on page 17 it was erroneously stated that Danielle Séguin is an assistant at Village Hair Cutters in Hudson. In fact, Danielle is a hairdresser.

The Journal regrets the errors.

The Journal

- Last issue before the holiday break

Tuesday, December 22nd

Tax freeze for Hudson in 2021 Nick Zacharias

The Journal

While the presentation of Hudson’s budget for 2021 was done online, the relief for those watching the live stream can be imagined as Mayor Jamie Nicholls and Treasurer and Director of Finance Pierre Charron announced a net zero increase in residential property taxes for 2021. They also explained some unexpected windfalls leaving the town with a $1.65 million surplus in 2020, and outlined mediumand longer-term budget plans for the coming three years. Said Nicholls, “We have great news to present to Hudsonites tonight and I’m very excited to share the plans for 2021.”

COVID-19 tax relief Residential property owners will pay the same taxes in 2021 as they did in 2020. Charron and Nicholls explained: council lowered the mill rate for 2020, effectively lowering taxes, with the caveat that they would bring online increases for services in 2021 to better reflect individual use and make the system fairer. The predicted increases have come, but council this year decided to provide one-time relief by

offsetting the service increases while holding the mill rate at the 2020 level, so homeowners’ tax bills will remain unchanged for next year.

“We’re having a COVID tax freeze,” said Nicholls.

They also announced a tax cut for area businesses to the tune of 25 per cent, offering much-needed relief for local business owners who’ve struggled under the stresses of the pandemic.

Windfall surplus The surplus of $1.65 million over projections for 2020 can be explained by several impacts that came with the pandemic. There was a $500,000 COVID-19 subsidy that came from the province, and a combined savings of roughly $783,000 on programs and activities that did not take place due to COVID-19 restrictions. A sizeable portion of this windfall went to cover unforeseen costs such as personal protective equipment and increased spending on public security, as well as unplanned overages for roads in the area of $757,000.

The other major shift from the 2020 budget was a surprise gain of over $1 million above plan on one-time wel-

PHOTO BY NICK ZACHARIAS

Even with taxes frozen, Hudson’s 2021 budget includes over $3 million for road work and puts to paper $670,000 over three years to begin plans to rehabilitate the Pine Lake dam, which councils have been talking about since it cracked, allowing the artificial lake to drain away six and a half years ago.

come taxes for new residents, as more people than usual relocated to Hudson – many surmise as a consequence of people wanting to leave larger urban centres due to COVID-19. Said Nicholls, “The real estate market in Hudson is on fire.”

Building a new town hall Some of the most significant expenses going into 2021 and beyond include $1.75 million for provincial police services, $853,000 in payments to feed the MRC and the CMM, and $675,000 in maintenance and repairs. The town has forecasted $3.125 million in capital expenditures for roads/parks and green spaces, though a more detailed slide revealed that none of that money

was actually earmarked for parks in 2021. Nicholls assured those watching that there would once again be money for green spaces in 2022; he later clarified that the last master plan for parks was done in 2008 and they want to properly study requirements before proceeding.

Further down the road, council announced they would be investing large sums over several years to build a new town hall, and apportioned $670,000 over the next three years to finance the Pine Lake rehabilitation efforts that have been promised since before the last election three years ago.

Continued on page 17

LA TOUTE NOUVELLE VERSA 2021

MAINTENANT EN CONCESSION!

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THE JOURNAL

5

GUEST SOAPBOX MONIQUE BISSONNETTE

2020 Vision 2020 was the most unusual year for just about everyone I know. Dealing with an outbreak that affected an exceptionally high proportion of people, lethal for some and unseen since 1918.

The Dow Jones dropped by over 2000 points on March 9 as the virus triggered a world-wide recession with companies suffering from liquidity problems, and an exceptionally high number of stores shut their doors for good.

In Minnesota, George Floyd was killed by a police officer for possession of a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill. People looked on in stunned horror, some videotaping, some screaming for the cop to stop kneeling on the man’s neck. Protests followed for months, and yet more black men were murdered at the hands of white police officers.

A huge explosion of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate at a Beirut port was accidentally detonated, killing approximately two hundred people and injuring thousands more. The chemical had been improperly stored and the political buck was passed around.

We lost celebrities such as Kobe Bryant, Chadwick Boseman, Eddie Van Halen, Diego Maradona, Alex Trebek, Sean Connery and the irreplaceable ‘Notorious RBG’ Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

West Coast wildfires, murder hornets, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, I could go on.

On a personal front, I lost two immediate family members within five weeks, and we inherited a dog with abandonment issues. The newspaper had to close for a few weeks while we scrambled to set everyone up with work from home gear and learn how to put a newspaper together while being apart.

Despite a challenging time for local retailers, our amazing sales team has rolled up their sleeves and worked diligently with the local community of business owners to help collectively keep us all going.

This year was, at times, disastrous, yet I give thanks for the positives. Just about everyone I know remains unaffected by COVID and wears a mask without fail. Healthcare workers got the applause they deserve, and Quebec was pushed to finally give fair remuneration to seniors residences’ workers. Mr. Floyd and many others unjustly killed due to their ethnicity seem to have affected real change. Black Lives Matter founded in 2013 was brought to the forefront of this fight for justice. Monuments around the world of people with links to slavery were toppled and taken away. Street names were changed such as the road that leads up to the White House is now Black Lives Matter Plaza. Most importantly various police departments are making changes such as banning chokeholds and no-knock warrants.

Right after the Beirut explosion, 27,000 residents were visited by the Lebanese Red Cross to assess their needs. So far, they have provided cash grants to more than 1,200 families so that each family can choose how to use the money for their unique situation. Care packages were distributed, and medications and other essentials were purchased and given to those in need. Now, losing those close to us is the most emotionally charged moment of our lives. However, I witnessed two individuals who let death in with grace and dignity, an example I will carry with me indefinitely.

I have fallen in love with the six-pound Maltese I inherited, and her adaptive behaviour has made the transition much easier than I had expected. The Journal continues to thrive due to many factors.

The first being our advertisers continuing to have faith in the reach our paper has, the second is the outstanding team. There were temporary pay cuts that everyone agreed to, completely different ways of communicating with each other and putting the paper together, but each one of them has made it work. Novelist and poet Hermann Hesse said long ago, “I have always believed, and I still believe, that whatever good or bad fortune may come our way we can always give it meaning and transform it into something of value.”

That is how I choose to view 2020.

PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

The City of Vaudreuil-Dorion announced a residential property tax freeze for 2021 intended to bring tax relief to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

No tax increase for residential property owners in Vaudreuil-Dorion John Jantak

provide quality services to our citizens.

I am proud to say we have succeeded.

Our goal is to help citizens and businessVaudreuil-Dorion council will not es while also maintaining services,” said increase residential property taxes for the mayor.

2021. The announcement was made The city was able to limit its tax induring a special session of council on crease to 1.5 percent but the owners of Monday evening, December 14 that also residential buildings with five units or introduced the town’s operating budget less will see their tax bills reduced by the for the new year and its triennial capital same percentage. “This cancels the resiworks program. dential tax increase for 2021,” said Pilon.

The city’s budget for 2021 amounts Special relief fund for businesses to $86,247,352 and was presented by Businesses in the city will have access Director General Olivier Van Neste and to an assistance fund that is being set Assistant Director General and Treasurer up with the local business development Marco Pilon. The budget was prepared organization, DEV Vaudreuil-Soulanges. in the context of the COVID-19 global “Both the tax reduction and assistance pandemic which has forced the city’s nufund will be financed using the money merous departments to adapt to various provided by the Government of Quesituations while keeping in mind that the bec to support the city in these difficult coming months will be affected by the times. I thank the directors for the excelcontinued ups and downs related to the lent work they have done in evaluating pandemic. expenses,” said Pilon.

“Despite several issues that needed The city is working with its businesses to be taken into consideration when preand industries and will provide finanparing the 2021 budget with regard to cial aid in terms of loans. “We have a both revenues and expenses, we manprogram just for them to help get them aged to present a responsible budget through the pandemic. Many businesses while maintaining quality services and have been affected such as restaurants keeping tax levels reasonable,” said Marand hotels,” Pilon told The Journal. co Pilon.

Direct financial assistance to help Easing the financial burden small businesses is a better alternative For Mayor Guy Pilon, the 2021 budthan reducing the business property tax get manages to ease the tax and finanrate because many entrepreneurs do not cial burden being felt by both residents own the buildings they operate from, and businesses alike. said Pilon. “This way it will go directly to “The past few months have been the business owners,” he added. extremely stressful for elected officials, The mayor also delivered a holiday city workers, and citizens alike. Our conmessage of hope to all the residents of tous mes clients the et Meilleurs stantMerci concernàhas been to preserve Vaudreuil-Dorion. city’s financial health while continuing Continued on page 10 Voeux pour la Nouvelleto Année!

The Journal

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THE JOURNAL

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Happy Holidays PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

Saint-Lazare council adopted its 2021 municipal budget that freezes residential property taxes next year in an effort to help offset the financial difficulties many residents are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Property tax status quo for Saint-Lazare in 2021 John Jantak

The Journal

Saint-Lazare residents will not see an increase in residential property taxes for 2021. The announcement was made during a special session of council on Tuesday evening, December 15 that also introduced the town’s operating budget for the new year and its triennial capital works program.

Council decided to allocate its anticipated $2 million surplus to the 2021 budget. It also received financial assistance in the amount of $1,680,440 from the provincial government to compensate for lost revenue and additional expenses related to the COVID-19 outbreak. The budget was prepared with the intent to avoid tax increases, particularly in regard to the difficulties faced by many taxpayers during the current pandemic.

Provincial government assistance “We were faced with a situation where we know there are a lot of people that the last thing they needed this year is a tax increase. We know what COVID-19 has done to a certain segment of our population and we managed to avoid an increase completely. I’m pleased with that,” Mayor Robert Grimaudo told The Journal via telephone after the council meeting adjourned.

“What helped is that we received a nice cheque from the Quebec government. I understand all the municipalities received their own cheques. I appreciate that very much. This definitely helped us balance our budget. It’s a huge help,” Grimaudo added.

Lower interest rates To help ease the financial hardships many families and residents are facing as a result of the pandemic, the town has also reduced the interest rate charged for late payment of taxes, lowering it from 18 per cent to nine per cent.

“This will help to lighten the burden,”

said Grimaudo.

The city will also allow residents to pay their tax bill in nine installments instead of the standard three in 2021 but at a slightly higher interest rate. Information will be included when residents receive their tax bill in January.

The mayor also thanked council and the town’s administration for all their work to deliver a budget that should bring financial relief to citizens who need it most.

“All the councillors worked very hard on the budget and they were very involved. It’s not an easy thing to do when you have to do your budget meetings on Zoom and via email. It’s a lot easier to do when you’re sitting around,” said Grimaudo.

“There are no important services that have been cut,” he added. “We’ve managed to balance the budget and have a zero percent tax increase even though snow removal costs have increased substantially this year.”

Helping people cope Councillor Brian Trainor reiterated the mayor’s assertion that the town’s 2021 budget was tabled with the intent of helping people to better cope during these uncertain times.

“We can all be proud of the effort we put into this budget and I’m confident our residents, most of them anyway, will be satisfied with the result, especially given the challenging circumstances as a result of the pandemic,” said Trainor.

Grimaudo advised people to stay safe over the holidays. “When it comes to the pandemic we know there’s light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine and all. But we still must be extremely careful and stay safe. I wish everybody health over the holidays and a Happy New Year.”

Complete budget details and the triennial plan are available on the town’s website at ville.saint-lazare.qc.ca/en/ budget.

The whole family of Caisse Desjardins de Vaudreuil-Soulanges wishes everyone a wonderful holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year.

We look forward to serving you with passion and enthusiasm in 2021!

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

THE JOURNAL

7

KELLY’S KEYBOARD A MILLENNIAL’S VIEWPOINT

KELLY MIYAMOTO

Hindsight is…

What an unusual, stressful, dramatic, and intense year it’s been. I know every year we talk about how this latest one was one for the history books but 2020 really was something else.

And not only because of the coronavirus. The start of 2020 brought us the fires in Australia, rising tensions between America and Iran, and more of Donald Trump’s impeachment proceedings. And that was all before January was over.

The first few months of this year were already pretty remarkable, but then COVID-19 came along. The pandemic created a global state of both stillness and panic.

As businesses and schools closed down and public spaces emptied during the initial lockdown, everything ground to a halt. Even now as vaccinations are just starting to be distributed around the world, we’re in the dark as to what the future will bring.

Last year around this time, I wrote a 2019 wrap-up piece that was very hopeful and optimistic about stepping into the new decade with a positive outlook. I don’t want to repeat all of the sentiments I made then. But I don’t want to throw those hopes away either. And I certainly don’t want to completely write off 2020.

It was a difficult year with so many low moments, but I have also had occasion to be grateful. I’ve had time to reflect and reassess my priorities. I’m lucky enough to be part of a quarantine bubble that has been filled with love and support throughout this experience. Despite the tragedy and exhaustion, we have collectively created more space to appreciate what we have. 2020 was a reminder to not take things for granted. And maybe also to put a little extra effort into building small pockets of joy wherever we can.

The bad things happening right now won’t evaporate when 2021 arrives. COVID-19 is ongoing. Even with the coming vaccines, it will still be a while until we can go back to anything resembling our pre-pandemic lives. The coronavirus could disappear tomorrow and many of us would need time before being totally comfortable removing our masks, being in crowds, or shaking hands with strangers.

So no, 2021 isn’t a total reset. But it is comforting to take a new step and leave some of our recent troubles behind.

It’s a fresh start. It’s a moment to mark the past and take stock for the future. We can let the previous year fall into memory and go forward hopefully a little bit wiser than we were before. It happens every year, but the feelings of relief and anticipation are definitely more concentrated this time around.

2020 was filled with stress, struggle, and loss. Some of those difficulties will carry into 2021, but here’s to better days and all the ups and downs to come. I hope at the very least that there are some gentler and kinder times ahead of us to look forward to. Take care, be well, and happy New Year.

8

THE JOURNAL

Thursday, December 17, 2020

PHOTO BY JOHN JANTAK

The Town of Pincourt adopted its 2021 municipal budget that will keep property taxes unchanged from last year but slightly raise the cost of most city services by an average of $31 per residence.

Pincourt freezes residential property taxes for 2021 but slightly increases service charges John Jantak

The Journal

Residential property owners in Pincourt will not see their property taxes

go up next year but they will pay an average of $31 more per year to offset an increased cost in some services that the town provides for its residents.

The property tax freeze was announced during a special session of council on Tuesday evening, December 15, where the town’s operating budget of just over $24 million was adopted.

Offsetting financial difficulties The tax freeze is in line with similar measures that have been adopted by several municipalities throughout the Municipalité Régionale de Comté (MRC) de Vaudreuil-Soulanges. It is meant to give a helping hand to Pincourt residents who may be facing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Town council has taken into consideration the particular year we are ending. This budget considers the financial challenges faced by citizens and businesses in the face of the pandemic. I would like to acknowledge the cooperation of the managers in each department for achieving the final outcome,” said Mayor Yvan Cardinal.

The average $31 charge will apply specifically to the town’s garbage collection, water and sewer services because of increases in operating costs.

“This shouldn’t affect our residents very much,” said Cardinal.

Minimal service cost increase The mayor noted that the increase

in service charges was kept to a bare minimum and was reduced by about eight dollars per household because of a reduction in the cost related to the pick-up of organic materials. Cardinal said council and the town’s administrators worked diligently to ensure that residents only have to endure a minimal increase when they receive their tax bills in January.

The town’s three-year capital investment program totals more than $39 million with a focus on ensuring the sustainability of municipal infrastructure while monitoring the town’s debt levels. The completion of the swimming pool chalet this year, as well as the construction of the new municipal garage and expansion of the fire stations, are a part of this investment.

Holiday wishes Cardinal extended his best wishes to all residents for the holiday season and to take care of each other as the pandemic continues. He also suggested that people consider calling someone during the holidays who may be living alone or is isolated to help lift their spirits.

“Everyone will have to stay home this Christmas so try to reach out to someone to help them get through this difficult time. It’s very hard for many people at this time of the year.

I think it would be appreciated very much,” said Cardinal.

For complete details regarding the town’s 2021 budget, visit the Pincourt website at villepincourt.qc.ca/en/thetown/finances-and-taxes/budget-andfinancial-report.

Legion News Rod L. Hodgson – President

Special contributor

The 2020 Poppy Campaign went much better than we expected and

though the results have not yet been finalized we are not in bad shape. The Poppy Campaign Directors wish to thanks all of you who helped out in the campaign but especially those who made very special and kind donations above and beyond the call of duty.

These extra donations have put us in quite good shape for the coming year.

Many Legion Branches across Canada did not even hold a 2020 Poppy Campaign, however Hudson Branch #115 did and our local veterans and special causes (cadets corps, various regional hospital foundations, Nova Adult Care Centre, Ste. Annes Veterans’ Hospital special units, Old Brewery Mission’s Sentinels in the Street: aid for homeless veterans, etc.) we support will benefit from your wonderful help.

Thank you. By the way not one dollar from the campaign goes to support any Legion itself. That is forbidden by Dominion Command.

We continue to accept your payments for the 2021 Legion dues. You can mail your payment to Hudson Legion Br. #115, 56 Beach Road, Hudson, QC, J0P 1H0. The fee is $60 and

on the memo line of your cheque write ‘2021 dues.’ Make the cheque payable to Hudson Legion Br. #115. Finally you can also join or renew online at the Canadian Legion’s main website; www.legion.ca.

The Legion fundraising sale held December 5 was a great success. Organizer Jay Oland advised me that some 125 cars drove through our setup with the occupants donating 680 kg of food for the John Abbott College Food Bank. Seventy-two bottles of wine were also donated and about 16 baskets of them were delivered on December 6 after the winners’ names were drawn. We do not have a final amount of the money raised but we will advise you hopefully by this coming weekend. The back-ordered shirts and sweatshirts should be in by then as well. Thanks you so much for all your kind donations and thoughtful words and smiles and conversations.

Our 17 Legion volunteers spent a long cold day but it was very worthwhile.

If you ever visit Ypres, Belgium (Wipers to the British soldiers of WW I) the local Fire Brigade plays the Last Post every evening at 8 p.m. A very moving commemoration that has been going on since the gate was opened in the late 1920s and only halted dur-

PHOTO COURTESY ROD HODGSON

Our legion softball team from a few years ago. Among those pictured are Bill Opzoomer, Dave Muir, Geoff Houghton, Ozzie Raven, Howard Putnam and Ronnie Clarke.

ing the German occupation of the city during WW II. Over 54,000 names of British and Commonwealth soldiers with no known graves are engraved on the walls of the Menin Gate. Sadly a few are from Hudson.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Mme. Claudette Carrière who passed away at the VaudreuilSoulanges Palliative Care Residence December 6. Claudette was a regular player with the Wednesday afternoon Bridge games at the Legion as well as attending our Friday night dinners.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family. The flag outside the Legion was lowered last past week in her memory.

PHOTO COURTESY ROD HODGSON

In Ypres, Belgium the local Fire Brigade plays the Last Post every evening at 8 p.m. A very moving commemoration that has been going on since the gate was opened in the late 1920s and only halted during the German occupation of the city during WW II..

Lest we forget…

Santa makes virtual visit to Hudson dancers Sharon Weiner

Special contributor

This past Sunday evening, December 13, Santa Claus (a.k.a. Peter Angrove) made a special stop at the Hudson Dance Center, where he joined in a Zoom call with over 45 HDC families who were all very surprised by his visit.

For over an hour Saint Nick himself interacted with each dancer where he shared their Christmas wishes and took notes on just how naughty the children elves have been – some taking a bath in marshmallows or attempting to make

pancakes leaving flour everywhere, others playing with the Christmas tree lights!

It was a joy to see the dancers faces light up when Santa knew their Elf’s name, or what was on their wish list or were shocked at how Santa knew they had been helping clean around the house, or improved on their reading skills and playing the piano.

In addition, over $250 was raised for Le Pont/Bridging food bank. Happy holidays!

See more photos on our Facebook page.

PHOTO COURTESY SHARON WEINER

TheJournal TH

CELEBRATING 17 YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY! Thursday, December 17, 2020

THE JOURNAL

9

KICK IN THE ARTS

BRIAN GALLAGHER

A Tale of Two Women I know. This could go so many ways, and probably most of them in a direction that ends with me in the doghouse, out in the street or buried six feet under somewhere near Jack Layton Park (at least I hope it’s not anywhere near the dog path and if it is I hope I was buried face down).

But it will not, beautiful people, because this tale is all about the battle between bad and good, slim and fat, jeans and sweatpants… you get the idea. You see, it is the holiday season and during the holidays we indulge. Now don’t start wagging your judgemental middle finger at me whilst (only second time this year I got to use that word) the other four (yes I’m calling the thumb a finger – I do not discriminate) are holding a Gingerbread cookie topped in Cool Whip and dunked in your Starbucks pumpkin spiced latté. Wow, let’s take a second here and grab a breath. Is it just me who finds that last long-winded sentence a mouthful (see what I did there)? And unfortunately here I go again using parentheses way too many times for an established periodical such as this. But we are what we are, right? And I ramble. I ramble therefore I am. René Descartes would be proud (look that one up on the Google – show of hands, who all thought that quote was Shakespeare? And yes I know it is really, “I think therefore I am.” But thinking was never really my strong suit… go ahead, snicker away…that one is on me).

Where was I? I’m having trouble concentrating due to the sugar rush from gin and cookies. And that, dear readers, brings me to my point (yes I actually have one, no one is more surprised than I).

Our niece (let’s call her Kat – I always have) and her husband (name escapes me, okay it’s David I think) moved a couple of doors down from us here in Shangri-La this summer. And why wouldn’t they? It’s wonderful here and the neighbours are terrific. Good warm, friendly people. Also, Kat and the alleged David, wanted to move somewhere where they would have built-in dog-walkers and babysitters (not now – moving is stressful and messes with the reproductive cycle – heard that on Dr. Ruth). Not that they do not love us for who we are but they also love us for who we are in the right geographic location. A win-win if you will, for them, certainly… but here comes my point. Go reload on coffee and Baileys, we are almost there.

Our niece, Kat, definitely inherited her mother Jocelyne’s baking skills. Her mom was (and still is) a master baker and the baked apple did not fall far from the cinnamon tree. Kat loves to cook and bake and share her love of it with everyone around her. God bless her. I will leave the fact that she is a vegan out of this (whoa whoa – all you protein-starved plant eaters calm down; I’m not judging), and the fact that her cheeses and butters have numbers and the letters ‘X’ and ‘Z’ in them has no bearing on the tastiness of her creations.

Do I love having a family member up the street who bakes me delicious treats on a regular basis? You bet your gluten-free canola oil I do. And as much as my bestie loves the child of her sister, therein is the rub.

My bestie is trying with all her might and with all the love in her heart to keep me in good health so we can have a long life together. We even bought matching warm hats so we can walk each day this winter (I know, cute, right?). However as long as I keep walking through the cedar hedge and across the street, through the seven levels of the candy cane forest and through the sea of swirly-twirly gum drops (guess the movie) to get tins of cookies, muffins and other assorted treats, I will never be able to get back to my male modelling physique. And if you believe that one…

There it is dear readers. The struggle is real. My family loves me.

Except one wants me fat and happy and the other wants me trim and happy. Life is all about choices my friends. My path at this point in my life is unclear. I shall have a macaroon and ponder it. Besides, New Year’s resolutions are still 14 days away, right?

From Crooked Tree Corner here in Shangri-La - “Sociable!”

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

Seniors

Continued from page 3 The question is how long she can survive forced down to one resident in a home that can accommodate nine.

“I’ll try to find more residents, but it’s hard to do. People mostly are looking for more care, which I provide, but the government says I’m no longer al-

Letters

Continued from page 4 A Christmas letter, Dear Editor, I have just mailed out the last of my Christmas cards for this year, many more cards this year! Most of us are isolated and confined. COVID-19 is hovering all around us, so I have reached out to many more people. I have phoned many old friends that I had almost forgotten. I put out many colourful Christmas lights. And I observe, so have many of our townspeople. The lights are a sign that something is happening in our town: we are celebrating the season! I can sense a

Vaudreuil-Dorion Continued from page 6

“I hope everybody will be safe during the holidays. Even for me, I will not be able to see my grandchildren. I hope everyone takes all the necessary

lowed.”

The 600-plus signatories to the petition will be left to wonder why more couldn’t be done.

“I just don’t see why they have to force these people out in the middle of all of this,” says Ward, “instead of working with Samson, to help her meet their requirements so these people can stay where they’re safe and happy, where they want to be.” buildup to Christmas. We won’t let COVID get us down. So I have a favour to ask: Don’t turn out your lights on December 26! Let them shine. Remember the 12 Days of Christmas come after December 25. There will be more celebrating to be had until Little Christmas, January 6. We may still be isolated and confined but we can keep the Christmas spirit alive.

Finally, I do not want to walk the streets of my town on December 26 and see any Christmas trees thrown out on our snow banks. Keep your trees lit, play your Christmas music, and make this the most festive Christmas of....

PEACE-JOY-LOVE-HAPPINESS-HEALTH. David Morton Hudson precautions,” he said.

Complete details of the 2021 budget are available on the city website at www.ville.vaudreuil-dorion.qc.ca/ en/the-city/municipal-administration/ budget-and-financial-documents.

Su

bm ph it ot yo o ur

Pets of Vaudreuil-Soulanges

PHOTO BY CARMEN MARIE FABIO

Welcome to our feature showcasing and celebrating the many companion animals we have in our region.

Meet Mini, a 2-year-old male Bearded Dragon lizard native to Australia seen here with owner Stephanie Whissel of Rigaud. Mini is calm and docile though he likes to climb as high as possible (on his owner’s head) to see what’s going on around him. Eighty per cent of his diet is vegetarian with the odd cricket or worm thrown in. His skin feels somewhat like sandpaper and though he has claws, they’re not excessively sharp. All in all, he’s pretty chill.

If you’d like us to feature your pet in our weekly section – dog, cat, rabbit, horse, lizard, possum (possum?) etc., send us a photo of you and your pet together, along with a short description, to editor@yourlocaljournal.ca.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

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Take self-isolation seriously Please follow self-isolation instructions to avoid transmitting COVID-19 to others.

Self-isolation means stay at home Do not go to school or work, to an early childhood or daycare centre, or to any public place such as a stores, supermarkets or pharmacies.

If you live in a private home for seniors, remain in your own unit and do not walk around the building.

We recommend that you have your meals delivered to you, thus avoiding the need to move around inside the residence.

If you live with other people who don’t have COVID-19:

• If possible, remain alone in one room of your home.

• Avoid contact with the other occupants of the home. Stay at least two metres away from them. If you need to get closer, cover your nose and mouth.

• If possible, eat and sleep alone in one room of your home.

• If possible, use a bathroom that is reserved for you.

Otherwise, disinfect after each use.

Do not go out for walks.

• Air out the house and your room often by opening a

Do not take public transit.

You can go out on your balcony or in your private yard while remaining at least two metres away from anyone else.

If no one can help you with your supermarket or pharmacy purchases, try the home delivery services offered by many stores. Stay at least two metres away from the delivery person.

window if the weather permits.

If you need to leave your home for medical reasons, wear a mask or face covering.

Don’t allow any visitors into your home.

The people living with you can continue with their usual activities (work, school, daycare, etc.) as long as they themselves are not under a self-isolation order, such as while awaiting test results, after having been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or after returning from a trip abroad, etc.).

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

When should you self-isolate

You tested positive If you don’t develop any symptoms, you need to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of your screening test.

If you do develop symptoms, you need to self-isolate until all of the following conditions are met:

• 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared

• You have had no fever for at least 48 hours (without having taken fever medicine)

• Your symptoms have improved for

You have COVID-19 symptoms

You are returning from abroad

If you have symptoms such as fever, the onset or worsening of a cough, difficulty breathing or a sudden loss of smell without nasal congestion (with or without loss of taste), you need to self-isolate and get tested. The COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool provides recommendations on what steps to take based of your condition. Go to Québec.ca/ decisioncovid19 to evaluate your symptoms.

All travellers entering Canada are required to self-isolate for 14 days, even if their COVID-19 test result is negative.

at least 24 hours (excluding cough or loss of smell, which may last longer)

You are waiting to take the test or find out your results While awaiting your test results, you’ll need to self-isolate if:

• You have symptoms of COVID-19 or had them in the last 10 days

• You have been flagged by public

health authorities as having been in contact with a COVID-19 case

• You have returned from a trip abroad If you meet none of these criteria, you do not need to self-isolate. We do recommend that you follow general health measures until you get your results. If you test positive for COVID-19, you will receive instructions from the public health authorities.

You have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 If you don’t develop any symptoms, you’ll need to self-isolate for 14 days from your last contact with the confirmed case of COVID-19 even if your COVID-19 test result is negative.

To make the best possible decisions for your own health and that of your loved ones during the COVID‑19 pandemic, consult the Self‑Care Guides.

They will provide you with the best ways to protect yourself from COVID‑19, take care of yourself, provide basic care to family members and friends, and where and when to consult a health professional if you need care or services.

If you do develop symptoms, you’ll need to self-isolate until all of the following conditions are met:

• 10 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared

• You have had no fever for at least

48 hours (without having taken fever medicine)

• Your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours (excluding cough or loss of smell, which may last longer)

Québec.ca/selfisolating 1 877 644-4545

Thursday, December 17, 2020

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MOVIE REVIEW MATT MILLER

Movies You Might Have Missed Movies you might have missed Title: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Directed by: Shane Black Genre: Dark Comedy/Crime/Mystery Available on: Hoopla (free), YouTube and Amazon (Rent) Brief Synopsis: An L.A. thief, posing as an actor, accidentally stumbles into a complex murder investigation when he befriends a private eye over the holidays.

Scores: 86% Rotten Tomatoes, 7.5 IMDb Review: Is there anything that Hollywood loves more than a comeback?

For better and for worse, redemption stories have been around since the birth of moving pictures, and they never cease to surprise. Very few films encapsulate this trope more than Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a film that’s as much of a Christmas movie as Die Hard is, and that asks the question: What if Chinatown was funny? Set in the snowless Los Angeles during the holidays, this cynical, witty script both lampoons and honours the hardboiled detective stories of old Hollywood, breathing fresh life into an overdone genre, and also into the careers of three Hollywood stars. It’s a good oldfashioned Christmas miracle (if you ignore the murders)!

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang starts with the latter half of its title. After botching a robbery in New York that results in his partner getting shot, Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) serendipitously hides out in a casting audition – where he plays the role of a criminal in an interrogation. Breaking down in real emotion, the casting directors mistake it for method acting (the first of many shots at L.A. shallowness), securing Harry the unexpected role. After being flown out to L.A., Harry is introduced to ‘Gay’ Perry (Val Kilmer), a P.I. who is to mentor Harry for his character, and also runs into his former high school crush Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), who has moved out to Hollywood to pursue her dreams, at a party thrown by Hollywood bigshot Harlan Dexter. Harry butts heads with Perry immediately, and initially fails to rekindle his connection with Harmony. However, events are set in motion when on a routine stakeout, Perry and Harry witness a body disposal, which turns out to be Dexter’s estranged daughter, Veronica. Bad luck, a complex plot, and sheer ineptitude dog the trio as they at first search for answers, only to then run for their lives. A neo-noir that is equal parts crime, romance and dark comedy, KKBB manages to pull off the surprise hat-trick and work across all levels.

After earning $75 million in Avengers: Endgame, you would be forgiven for forgetting that Robert Downey Jr. had ever struggled for work. In a story that is already Hollywood legend, RDJ worked on KKBB only two years after getting sober, infamously hitting rock bottom with a particularly bad hamburger. “Burger King saved my life,” may sound like a good endorsement from a celebrity, but knowing it was so atrocious that it caused Downey to re-evaluate his life choices and throw away his heroin puts a damper on this potential ad campaign. Brought in because producers liked his line readings and because he would be a ‘cheap name,’ Downey got his second chance, and nailed it. Lauded for his performance as the fidgety, neurotic Harry, Downey turned this success into Iron Man just three years later. The rest is cinematic history.

Continued on page 21 PHOTO COURTESY IMDB.COM

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

Winter is here and so are snowmobilers With the winter season upon us, the Sûreté du Québec is reminding snowmobilers that it will be present on area trails to ensure the safety of users and compliance with the laws in force.

The police presence aims to educate snowmobilers to adopt responsible and safe behaviour. Interventions will be carried out on the trails as well as at the crossings of public roads with snowmobilers who behave in ways that compromise the safety of other users.

Particular attention will be paid to the ability to drive impaired by alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two, failure to comply with the speed limit and failure to comply with mandatory stop signs at crossings of trails and public roads.

Safety tips • Travel on marked trails and avoid bodies of water: the state of ice in some places can represent a significant risk for people who venture off the trails.

• Avoid going alone on a hike and always inform someone close to you of the planned route.

• Be particularly vigilant at the crossroads of a public road.

• Keep to the right at all times.

• Observe the signs.

• Adjust your speed according to trail conditions.

THE JOURNAL FILE PHOTO/ SÛRETÉ DU QUÉBEC

• Refrain from consuming alcohol or drugs.

Reminder of the regulations • Snowmobiling is prohibited on public roads except in exceptional cases, particularly in places provided by signs.

• The maximum speed limit on the trail is 70 km/h.

• Snowmobilers are subject to the same laws as motorists regarding the ability to drive impaired by drugs, alcohol, or a combination of the two.

Impaired driving ability and speed are the leading causes of fatal snowmobile collisions. During the 2019-2020 season, 24 people lost their lives practicing this hobby on the territory of the Sûreté du Québec.

Up for adoption Juniper, 1 ½-year-old female Husky mix, and her five puppies came to us through the Nordic Paws Project. The pups have already started going to their new homes, and Juniper is ready to begin her new life also. She is starting from square one, so she needs socializing and training, but she is very sweet and eager to please. Being a Northern girl, she needs an active family that enjoys spending time outdoors and will include her in their activities. She is good with other dogs, but not with cats. If you can promise to love, cherish and commit to

PHOTO COURTESY ANIMATCH

her for the rest of her life, fill out the form and ask for Juniper.

For more information on Juniper or any of the other dogs available for adoption, go to www.animatch.ca.

Up for adoption Hello, my name is Tina and I am a young mom who was born around July 24, 2019. I was found outside with my babies. I took good care of them and luckily I showed up at the right patio door. Now my kittens are safe and adopted and I can find my own happily ever after home. I am sweet and calm.

My fur is not looking great yet because I was outside and eating what I could find but with the food and the care that I am now receiving, I will soon be sporting a great looking coat. My colours are beautiful. I also broke one of my fangs while I was on the outside. Because I had it tough out there, I would prefer to be

PHOTO COURTESY CASCA

adopted into a family without other cats.

Being the center of attention will suit me fine, thank you very much. I have been vaccinated and will soon be sterilized.

For more information regarding Tina, please write to cascavaudreuil@outlook. com

Home and Estate À tous nos clients, Joyeuses Fêtes To all of our clients, Happy Holidays

Home and Estate Feature

We are happy to announce that construction has started on the much-anticipated Hudson Glass condominium project located at 426 Main Road.

PHOTO COURTESY AMELIA ROBINSON

Continued on page 16

The Napoleon 9700 series furnace Includes a unique virus-killing UV-C Sanitization system The same technology used in hospitals.

460 Grand Boulevard, L’Île-Perrot 514-453-5766 propaneleger.ca • info@propaneleger.ca Thursday, December 17, 2020

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Home and Estate

Featured home

Continued from page 15 This beautiful new building is located right in the heart of Hudson, close to all amenities, parks and trails.

All units have an open-concept living area, two or three bedrooms, a balcony, storage locker and parking space.

Select models include elevator ac-

• 426 rue Main Hudson, QC • Starting at $249,000 +tax • Centris #27080942 • Amelia Robinson and Dylan White Real Estate Brokers

M Immobilier

514-962-7751 514-816-1039 cess, indoor parking, a mezzanine and a private rooftop terrace.

The builder Groupe Lawlor has curated three design-styles – contemporary, traditional and Scandinavian – from which buyers can personalize interior finishings. Some of the standard finishings include: engineered hardwood floors; shaker-style cabinetry; quartz countertops, and air conditioning. Buyers can also select from many upgrade options, such as heated floors and an electric fireplace.

With the remaining units starting at $249,000 + tax, this building is accessible and perfect for first-time home buyers to those looking to downsize.

Seventy-five per cent of the Hudson Glass condominiums have already sold to local residents, and the remaining units won’t last long!

Chicken Quesadillas

PHOTO BY LAUREN MITCHELL

Lauren Mitchell

Special Contributor

Warm, crunchy, a little spicy, with melted cheese – what’s not to love about quesadillas?

Ingredients • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts • 2 thinly sliced bell peppers • 2 cups shredded cheddar • 4 medium-sized flour tortillas • 1 teaspoon of butter or margarine • 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil • 1/2 tsp. chili powder (or more to taste) • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano • Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions Cut the chicken breasts into small strips and place in a container or bowl.

Pour one tablespoon of olive oil over chicken then add the dry ingredients (chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt and pepper). Mix together to fully cover the chicken strips.

Place chicken in a frying pan on medium heat and cook fully. Spread butter or margarine on one side of each tortilla. Place the tortilla buttered side down in a separate frying pan on medium heat – don’t let it get too hot.

Place cheese, peppers, and chicken on the non-buttered side. Fold the tortilla halfway and cook until the outside is golden brown for crunchy texture.

Serve with a side of salsa and/or sour cream.

Enjoy!

The Journal welcomes reader feedback and invites citizen letters on topics of interest to themselves and their communities.

Send your letters to editor@yourlocaljournal.ca.

Letters should be 400 words or less and may be edited for clarity. Letters should be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Anonymous and unsigned letters will not be printed.

FR

O N

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PROUDLY REPRESENTING OUTSTANDING HOMES W AT E

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RIGAUD. Centris #13834399. Considering selling your home? Please call me for a free consultation, discretion assured.

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Real Estate Broker

Thursday, December 17, 2020

450-458-7051

30+ years with

Home and Estate

The weekend gardener The gardener’s Christmas list

T.M. O’Shaughnessy

Special contributor

The end of the year always seems to lend itself to lists. There are the ‘Best of…’ and ‘Worst of…’ lists, and Santa checking his list, not to mention our annual litany of New Year’s resolutions.

Needless to say, gardeners are list-makers par excellence, and the ones I know are already planning for next year.

My garden resolutions for 2021 are simple – more flowering vines all over my balcony, especially the bright pink morning glories from last summer. And more herbs, especially thyme and rosemary. But there will also be one special item on my gardening list for next year, and it takes some explanation.

I’ve been researching a book during COVID-19 and it has taken me to a Montreal that I, as a Montrealer, never knew – Pointe Saint-Charles where my grandfather was born. His parents were Irish immigrants and, with the help of Lovell’s Street Directory, and truly painstaking sleuthing because civic address numbers were drastically changed in the 1920s, I finally found his address.

On a steaming hot day last July, I stood at the door of the flat where he was born, the eldest of eight, four of whom

Hudson Continued from page 5 Said Nicholls, “We’re waiting on approvals and a subsidy from the Ministry of the Environment, then we can work on plans and details.” There is also a line for $265,000 to repair the community pool building, which was supposed to happen last summer while the pool was closed to the public, but didn’t.

“Council’s orientation is to have the repairs completed in the spring, so that hopefully we will be able to open next summer,” said Nicholls in a call after the

survived. He didn’t talk much about this part of his life and I never asked him about it before he died.

What I did know of him was that for most of his adult life, he planned and scrimped to build a cottage up north with whatever could be saved from his job at Grand Trunk Railway and then CNR. He finished it in 1952, and simply put, the cottage became the beating heart of his life and then his grandchildren.

He built a wooden swing and taught us to swim in the cool dark lake. He and I would sit out for hours ‘watching the moon,’ listening for the whippoorwill. He also dug a big garden there that had only red plants, his favourite colour – dahlias, zinnias, and Spanish onions mostly. He liked to read far into the night while at the cottage and, while I never saw him write, there were rumours he had written a poem that was printed in The Star during the war. I asked my grandmother about it and she showed me. Even then, I knew it was a really good poem.

My grandfather was a great haunter of book stores and for three Christmases, he gave me a special gift. The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico, then the Red Pony by John Steinbeck, then The Diary

of Anne Frank. He also had a very old and beautiful book of Irish history published in 1845 from his father which was inscribed with a list of the births of his eight children, starting with my grandfather in 1902 to the last child, stillborn, in 1916.

When my grandfather died, I made the final entry in this book, and pressed a crimson carnation from his funeral inside. From his belongings, I received his copy of the Complete Poems of William Butler Yeats, a hardback edition of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, his schoolboy Lamb’s Tales of Shakespeare, and the book Brave Sydney Somers, a school prize.

I always wondered why he hadn’t pursued writing himself. With the arrogance of youth, I even silently questioned what he lacked to have given it up. This summer as I struggled to see if I could write a book, it hit me. His cottage had been his body of work. Like a writer, he had envisioned and created something from nothing, and built a house in one generation from immigrant parents who would have found that unimaginable. It became a place his grandchildren all look back on, even now, as the core of our childhood – and that’s where my gardener’s list item comes in.

Though the cottage has since been sold and not lived in for years, it’s still standing – barely. I’ve been to its ruins, every tree and pathway still as familiar

PHOTO BY T.M. O’SHAUGHNESSY

Christmas is a time for remembering--and for making lists.

to me as my own hands. So this summer I’m going to go and dig out the last remnant of my grandfather’s red garden, a bergamot bush that has been feeding the bees and butterflies all these years and is still there. My sister and I will dig it out and rehabilitate it in her garden.

I’ll have a graft of it too on my balcony this summer, and press the bergamot’s beautifully scented red flowers in the old book of Irish history when they’re finished blooming.

This is what is at the top of my gardener’s list this year.

presentation.

He confirmed that the previously announced investment in a new online booking system should help with that goal.

Final words After confirming that the full detailed report of the 2021 budget would be posted on the town’s website shortly and finalizing votes on some housekeeping matters, Nicholls closed the special meeting by saying that while 2020 was a difficult year for everyone, he wanted to wish all the citizens of Hudson happy holidays and a happy and brighter new year.

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A) Anglos B) Bilinguals, Seniors, Gen Xers, Gen Zers, New Canadians, 10th generation Canadians C) All of the above Thursday, December 17, 2020

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17

Pawsitively purrfect pets Gift-giving for your four-legged friend C.J. Maxwell

Special contributor

Our gift-giving may be somewhat reduced this year due to limited shopping opportunities but you can still pick up a little something for your best canine buddy.

Bed – has your dog’s bed seen better days? Even if he or she sleeps right beside you, your dog will still appreciate a day bed in a cozy corner to keep an eye on the goings-on of the home.

Providing your dog with a comfortable bed elevated from the chill of the floor will provide him with a safe warm space all his own.

Treats – it’s Christmas, of course it’s time for treats. If you’re one of the guilty owners who shares human food with your pet, take heart. Apples, bananas and cucumbers are all acceptable, provided they’re organic.

Cricket-based treats are also proving to be very popular, being higher in protein than meat and requiring fewer natural resources to raise. Though not new, sweet potato continues to

be a big ingredient in treats and food alike.

Clothing – in Canada it’s perfectly acceptable for your dog to wear a snowsuit or at least splash pants. If you and your best buddy spend a lot of time hiking in the woods or even at the dog park, dogs are not impervious to the cold despite having a fur coat. The smaller breeds in particular are more sensitive to lower temperatures and wet conditions. Ultimately your dog is the final judge on what’s best for him or her – some dogs just don’t like wearing coats, sweaters, or the dreaded booties. Make sure he’s comfortable before you shell out big bucks for something you’ll never use.

Toys – Dogs aren’t particular but even if they’re fond of your shoes, it’s not an optimal toy for their health – or your budget. If your dog is a chewer, look for the long-lasting dense rubber toys. Pack it with some treats or a bit of natural peanut butter right before you walk out the door and your dog won’t even know you’re gone. Plushies are another popular

PHOTO COURTESY SHUTTERSTOCK

Dogs aren’t too particular when it comes to Christmas gifts but like the rest of us, treats and a comfy place to sleep are always appreciated.

choice though they’re definitely less durable – and messier once they’re torn apart.

Off the beaten path – some dogs love to chase and pop soap bubbles.

Well, there’s now a bacon scented non-toxic bubble mixture you can ei-

HappyHolidays to all!

1075 McGill St. Hawkesbury, ON • 613-632-5927

Hawkesburyvet.ca

Glengarry 347 Main Street South Alexandria, ON • 613-525-0570

Glengarryvet.ca

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

ther pour into a bubble-blowing machine or do it the old-fashioned way with a wand and lung power. Your dog won’t mind either way.

Puzzle toys – for the pooch that’s easily bored, there are a number of interactive devices designed to make him or her work for the next treat, either by rolling it around or sniffing it out of its hiding spot. A great gift idea if you have to leave your dog alone sometimes.

Time – your dog is going to be the easiest ‘person’ on your shopping list.

All he or she wants is to spend time with you. Remember, your presence is the best present. Happy holidays.

Time spent with family is an opportunity to take care of yourself These uncertain times may lead to negative emotions or anxiety.

Regularly engaging in physical activities that you enjoy, especially outdoors, could help you feel better.

QuĂŠbec.ca/gettingbetter Info-Social 811

Thursday, December 17, 2020

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19

CLASSIFIEDS SECTIONS 100- For Sale 125- For Rent 150- Services

175- Wanted 200- Careers/Employment 225- Financial Services

View, submit & pay your ad before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, online at www.yourlocaljournal.ca or e-mail: classifieds@yourlocaljournal.ca

450 510-4007

250- Real Estate Sale 275- Garage/Moving Sale 300- Miscellaneous

325- Autos for Sale $24.95 until it sells (max. 3 months)

350- Legal

1 week $15 2 weeks $20 3 weeks $25

100 – FOR SALE

150 - SERVICES

150 - SERVICES

175 - WANTED

Google Nest Hub, brand new, never opened. View and control connected devices from a single dashboard. Simply use your voice to watch YouTube and play songs from YouTube Music. $50. Text 438491-0133. See www.yourlocaljournal.ca/ visual-classifieds.

“MAN WITH A VAN” MOVING. Whole house. Small moves, too! Quebec/Local/ Ontario. Experienced/Equipped. Please leave a message 514-605-3868 MIKE THE MOVING MAN.

ASPIRATEURS HUDSON VACUUM. Canister and Central Vacuum Cleaners. Sales and repair all brands. SEBO Vacuum Cleaner, 10 year warranty $398. (Electrolux, Filter Queen, Kenmore and uprights; other brands available, $75 and up). New Central Vac with bag, hose, accessories $579 and up. Repair and service central vacuum systems. Parts and bags (all makes). Biodegradable cleaning supplies. Toilet paper 500 sheets per roll, $37.95/48 rolls per case. Sharpening scissors, knives and gardening tools. 67 McNaughten, Hudson, Quebec 450-458-7488

$ Buy car for scrap. Running or not, 24/7. www.scrapvehicule.com Call 514-715-7845

Five large beveled mirrors. Two measuring 19.5” by 40” and three measuring 21” by 45”. $100 for everything. Pick up. Text 514-3463234.

4 snow tires, 2 yrs old. Bridgestone Blizzak W80 235 X 45 X 17. $100. Summer tires free. Call/text Cory 416 254 9011 (in Hudson) (201217) MUST GO A.S.A.P. Solid wood, white with gold trimming bedroom set. Includes a tall dresser (20.5”x60.5”x40.5”), chestOdresser LD! S (64”x 30.5”x 20.5”), mirrorE(34”x42”x1.5”) D IFI 25”x 17.5”). All and 2 side tables (28.5”x S S doors are press to open. Lightly used in CLA L great condition!

Perfect for nursery or A U ISbedroom first set. $400. Message Keri V at 514-242-2034. See photos at www. yourlocaljournal.ca/visual-classifieds Large dog cage. Measures 29.5” wide X 48” long X 33” high. Dog not included. $100. Please call 514-425-5965 and leave a message. See photo at www.yourlocaljournal.ca/visual-classifieds

125 - FOR RENT OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT. Six spacious offices, reception area, kitchenette and powder room.

Offices are on the second floor of the Hudson Shopping Centre.

Available November 1, 2020. $2,000/month.

Call Marcel Leduc (514)602-4313

150 - SERVICES Dry Firewood. Stacking and kindling available. Very reasonable. Dan: 514-291-1068

APPLE MAC SUPPORT since 1983 Variable rates Initial hour free ** Preventive maintenance ** Upgrades Troubleshooting Bootable backups System analysis & Advice terry@cloudbyteconsulting.com www.cloudbyteconsulting.com 450-853-0534 Tree cutting & removal, limbing, pruning, branch trimming, brush clearing, stump grinding, hedges & shrubs, branch removal & chipping. Sean. 514-991-9674 (201222) Serge Guindon Inc. Excavation and Levelling 514-269-8281 Registered Gun Smith. We buy new and used guns, restricted and non-restricted. 514-453-5018

175 - WANTED A Military Collector looking for medals, flags, swords, uniforms, documents, helmets, hats, all related war memorabilia WWI, WWII, Canadian/German or others.

Antiques, collectibles, aviation, nautical, coins, badges, maps, signs. Please contact Patrick 450-458-4319, patrick148@ca.inter. net, 2760A Côte St-Charles, St-Lazare, Reni Decors (210211)

200 – CAREERS/EMPLOYMENT Great house Minn cleaning services, a well-established cleaning company in Pincourt is seeking a part-time cleaner for 10 hours per week. Please contact Deneise at (514)865-1973.

325 – AUTOS FOR SALE Pontiac G5 for sale. 2008 model, 166,000 kms, air conditioning, block heater, trailer hitch. 4 mounted summer tires, 4 mounted winter tires (on car). Asking $2,300. 450-2022009. See photos at www.yourlocaljournal. ca/visual-classifieds (201217) Chevrolet HHR 2007. Dark blue, grey interior. 179,255 km. Good condition, 5 speed manual. New battery, new clutch and gears, and brakes. $2,000, as is. 450-202-0718 (201217)

The Journal

125 - FOR RENT

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT

¿Moving? All jobs. Reliable, reasonable, fully equipped. Local and Ontario, Maritimes, USA. 35 yrs experience. Call Bill or Ryan 514-457-2063.

SINGING LESSONS. Private or SemiPrivate. In my home (St-Lazare). Sing the songs you love! Call Morgan. 514-6071308 References available.

Piano Lanco - Experienced local piano technicians offering quality tunings and skillful repairs. Improve the sound and touch of your piano with hammer voicing and action regulation. info@pianolanco.com 514-7707438

Six spacious offices, reception area, kitchenette and powder room.

Offices are on the second floor of the Hudson Shopping Centre.

Available November 1st - $2,000/month

Call Marcel Leduc (514)602-4313

PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY KARAVOLAS BOILY & TRIMARCHI CPA INC.

DENTISTS Dr. Don Littner, Dr. Morty Baker & Dr. Natalie Liu

Taxes and Accounting 438 Main Road, Hudson Tel : 450-458-0406

New patients welcome 472 Main Rd., Suite I, Hudson 450.458.5334

ARCHITECT

HOME CARE NURSING

Chloe Hutchison

Nova Hudson

ACCOUNTANTS

Architect, PA LEED™

chutchison@live.ca • 514-806-8952 BOOKKEEPING

Bryan Todd, B. Comm (Acct.)

Nursing care, palliative care, cancer care, foot care, family support, volunteer services and adult day centre.

465 Main Rd, Hudson, Suite 202 (450) 458-5727

Business and Personal Accounting Services, Tax Preparations & Filings Ph. (514) 730-5966

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

IMMIGRATION

Associate Investment Advisor Quenneville Walsh Private Wealth Management / Raymond James Ltd. 450-202-0999 mark.quenneville@raymondjames.ca

Brazolot Migration Group 450 Rue Main, Hudson, QC (450) 458-2186 info@brazolotgroup.com

Mark Quenneville

LIFE COACH

PSYCHOLOGIST

Caroline Courey Life Coach

Sylvi Lafontaine

caroline.courey@gmail.com 450-853-0616 www.courey.com International Coach Federation ICF

Psychologist 450.458.0944 sylvilafontaine@gmail.com Bilingual Services • Cdn & US trained

ORTHODONTISTS

SENIORS RESIDENCES

Dr. Amy Archambault Dr. Paul Morton

Maison des Anges Blancs

Your Local Specialists in Orthodontics 3206, boul. de la Gare, Suite 160 Vaudreuil-Dorion (450 )218-1892

PSYCHOLOGIST

drs. Martina Kleine-Beck

Home for autonomous only seniors in Rigaud.

Home cooked meals, wheelchair accessible Family atmosphere in a country setting

Contact: Brenda (450) 451-5100 514-910-3615

Psychologist 514.265.1386 martinakb _ 58@ hotmail.com

JOIN THE PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Contact us today 450-510-4007 • admin@yourlocaljournal.ca 20

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

The Journal

Home and Estate CLASSIFIEDS

View, submit & pay your ad online at www.yourlocaljournal.ca or e-mail: classifieds@yourlocaljournal.ca • 450 510-4007

In Memoriam

Claudette Carrière 1932 - 2020

HERE’S MY CARD

CLEANING SERVICE

COMPUTERS

GREAT-HOUSE MINN CLEANING COMPANY Services: • Residential • Commercial • Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly • Eco-friendly products CLEANING SERVICE • Spring/fall window cleaning WWW.GREAT-HOUSEMINN.CA

With heavy hearts, we announce the peaceful passing of Claudette Carrière of Hudson, on December 6, 2020, surrounded by family in the Hudson Palliative Care Residence, shortly after her 88th birthday.

She leaves to mourn her and to treasure her memory; her beloved children Diane Larose of Vaudreuil-Dorion and Pierre Larose (Cathy) of Miami, her cherished grandson Jake, as well as her sister Francine Carriere Pilon and her nieces Michèlle, Linda and Sylvie and great nieces Isabelle, Marianne and Virginie. She will also be missed by her friends and bridge groups formed via the Manoir Cavagnal.

514-865-1973 • greathousemin@gmail.com

HANDYMAN SERVICES DO YOU NEED HELP AROUND THE HOUSE?

For further details and to leave us your thoughts, please visit: www.aubryetfils.ca/en

Quality Handyman Service • 450-458-5623 HudsonHomeRepairsMaintenance@gmail.com

A celebration of life will take place at a later date.

MOVING

Movies

Continued from page 14 Unfortunately, for all Downey’s success, he has never done another movie with Val Kilmer, yet the two have a crackling chemistry that makes the dialogue and story snap along at a brisk pace. Kilmer is still awaiting his major comeback, but the former action star has all the right tools to be a comedic mainstay. It would not come as a shock to see Top Gun 2 help, nor would it be surprising if Kilmer lands a role in a future Marvel movie as a dastardly villain that steals the show. Hopefully the latter happens, if only to see a potential Downey/Kilmer duo on screen again.

Finally, KKBB also marked a resurgence

for writer/director Shane Black, whose meteoric rise in the 80s/90s for action scripts like Lethal Weapon and Predator had long flamed out. Black’s penchant for acerbic dialogue mixed with bungling, flawed characters is in full swing, and although the film barely made its budget back, Black was able to turn this into the excellent The Nice Guys, and one of the highest grossing films of all time; Iron Man 3. So, if you are somebody who prefers a December viewing of Die Hard over It’s a Wonderful Life (I’m now picturing Jimmy Stewart as John McClane, and it’s amazing), or you simply love a good comeback story, during the holidays, try Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. With only slightly more swearing than It’s a Wonderful Life (and Die Hard), it’ll put the ‘F’ back in Family Fun. Happy Holidays!

MANAGEMENT SERVICES

• PROPERTY MANAGEMENT • ESTATE SETTLEMENTS • ELDERCARE ASSISTANCE • BUSINESS MEETING MANAGEMENT 736 Main Road, Hudson, QC J0P 1H0 Tel: (450) 458-7316 Fax: (450) 458-4763 e-mail: froyle@frank-royle.com www.frank-royle.com

TREE SERVICE

TREES AND BEYOND

TREE SERVICE

Tree removal and trimming Stump removal • Chipping 60 ft. bucket truck service Firewood • Fully insured

PAINTING

WWW.TREESANDBEYOND.CA

514-802-2824

VENTILATION

J.S. Maintenance Is your ventilation system in need of cleaning?

TALK TO THE EXPERTS! Also Carpet, Window & High-Pressure Cleaning and Water Damage Clean-Up

VACUUM CLEANERS

Fax: (450) 424-1055 Tel:(450) 458-3022

Aspirateurs Valleyfield

info@jsmaintenance.net www.jsmaintenance.net

Marco Lapierre - Owner Sales • Service • Repairs • Bags • Filters

There is room for your card

111 Grande-Île, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield QC

www.aspirateursvalleyfield.com

450-377-0577 • 1-877-377-0577 (Toll Free)

CLASSIFIEDS WORK! Get G et y you our a ad d sseen een by b yo over ver 5 54,0 4,00 00 0 lloca ocal read readers ers by by plac placing ing it it in in Cont C onta act ct u uss at at :

cclassifi lassifieds@y eds@yo ourloc urlocaljourn aljournal.ca al.ca

450 4 50--51 5 10 0-4 -40 007 07

Call us (450) 510-4007

Dear readers and advertisers, Yes, we’re open but our day-today operations will reflect our new reality. Our offices will not be open to foot traffic. All communication will be handled by phone, email, or online through our website www.yourlocaljournal.ca.

We will continue to take classified ads and obituaries by phone or via our online platform but for the moment, no cash transactions are possible.

We look forward to continuing to serve the community and are happy, as always, to hear from you.

The Journal Team

Thursday, December 17, 2020

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More chances to win!

Our Photo of the Week contest culminates every December with our ‘Photo of the Year’ winner chosen by one of our sponsors. This year, there are more chances to win! The top prize will be $200, second place will be $100 and third place $50 for photos taken by our readers.

Have your cameras and phones ready to capture flora, fauna, artistry, and architecture. Every photo printed in the paper has a chance at winning the top prize! Send your entries to editor@yourlocaljournal.ca.

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For more information about our delivery options and curbside service please visit our website!

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forward" 31. Big rigs 34. Attraction 35. God of desire 36. Poet's "even" 38. Clear 40. Bond film: "___ to a Kill" 43. Railroad car 46. Harvested 47. Tedious film, e.g.

49. Accumulate 50. Wednesday Addams' portrayer 51. U. of Florida mascot 53. Booby trap 55. Marching band item 56. Hero 57. Great review 58. Genesis locale 62. Terminal

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1. Family member 2. Once more 3. Little plastic brick 4. Ruler of old 5. "Gladiator" star 6. "Always something there to ___ me . . ."

7. Stretchy 8. Brontë's "Jane ___" 9. Brown recluse, e.g.

10. ___ to the ___: full speed ahead 11. ___ we all?

12. Really ticked off 13. Snooped 21. Beverage 24. Island nation south of Sicily 25. Desert "monster" 26. Track shape 27. ___ to the ___: 1985 sci-fi classic 29. Distress call 30. It begins with a "spring

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18. Late actor Sharif 19. Concepts 20. ___ to the ___: sufficient advice 22. "The Divine Comedy" author 23. Budget item 24. Softened 25. Asian desert 28. Win over 30. Low sofas 32. Mountain pass 33. Fencer's weapon 37. Sluggard 39. Reputation 41. Speech 42. Speaker's need, shortly 44. Place of Arthurian legend 45. "Robinson Crusoe" character 48. Misfortunes 49. Quarrels 52. Acid's counterpart 54. Sporty Mazda 55. ___ to the ___: until the last moment 59. Misbehave 60. Novelist Jaffe 61. Miami's county 63. Find the back of the net 64. Customer 65. Range feature 66. Fathered 67. No more than 68. Impart

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Crossword and Sudoku

Normand Roy et son équipe

vous souhaites un très joyeux temps des fêtes à vous et toute votre famille.

Que la nouvelle année soit pour vous synonyme de Santé, Paix et Prospérité!

Normand Roy and his team

would like to take the time to wish you and your family a very happy Holiday Season as well as Health, Peace and Prosperity for the upcoming year!

Thursday, December 17, 2020

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Home and Estate Winter, We can hate it, wish it would disappear and that we could fly down south until it passes, but winter is essential to our dear Mother Earth.

It is an opportunity to rest after a long year, when everything is on pause and to prepare for the comeback of spring, the time of renewal and abundance.

We have a lot to learn from this time of rest. The ancient communities who were close to nature understood the deep sense of it.

Today, everything goes so fast, is instantaneous and stunning. We are bombarded with information, true or false, and we don’t even take time to think about it. We jump blindly in this whirlpool and we become intolerant while crying for injustice without asking any questions.

We are far from renewal and abundance!

It is winter.

Let us take this time of rest to think and focus on our thoughts. To accept, forgive and to give a bit of ourselves. Winter is not only a cold time. We can find a lot of warmth and happiness. It is one of the beautiful things that winter has taught me.

We wish you a restful holiday.

Nicolas Malaket

And the entire Ameublement Malaket family

Dear Customers, Please plan your purchases in advance as we will be CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 24 UNTIL JANUARY 5 in order to give our employees, who have worked so hard to give you excellent service, which is our reputation since 1947, some well-deserved rest.

FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON!

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Thursday, December 17, 2020

Many thanks to you and our best wishes for a safe and Happy Holiday Season.

For any emergency please contact malaket.nic@hotmail.com