February 25, 2015 issue 8 ng times

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Vol. 3, No. 8

The Voice of North Grenville

February 25, 2015

Planets align for North Grenville

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Aside from being a painting by Botecelli and an album by Paul McCartney, Venus and Mars are better known as two of our local planets. This spectacular photograph was taken by local resident, Rob Thacker, on Friday, February 20, as Venus, Mars and the Moon aligned above the skies of

North Grenville for the first time since September, 2008. This rare planetary alignment will not occur again until October, 2017, and it is the presence of the waxing Moon which makes this such a splendid sight. Rob’s photographs show the crescent of the Moon standing out against

the darker section, with the two planets to the left.

"Venus is the bright point of light, and Mars is the dimmer point just above Venus�, according to Rob. The pairing is known as a conjunction, and could be observed from the western horizon for three days, from Feb. 19 to Feb. 21.

Venus is the second planet from the Sun and is just slightly smaller than the Earth. It is the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and is called the Red Planet. Earth, as you may know, is the third rock from the Sun.

The North Grenville Times

Library Board looking forward

by David Shanahan The North Grenville Public Library [NGPL] is governed by a Library Board of Directors, under the authority of the Public Libraries Act, and is responsible for fund raising and determining which services are offered by the NGPL. A new Board was appointed by the municipal council in January, and members of the Board sat down recently with the NG Times to talk about budgets, staffing, programs and other aspects of operating a public library in the 21st Century.

Joan Simpson, the new Chair of the Board, has been amazed at how much the Library has been used since it opened. “It’s grown in leaps and bounds faster than we anticipated. We’re absolutely astounded by the level of use.” The move to a central library has allowed the NGPL to provide services that were impossible before, and to involve the widest range of people in its programs. Beverly Mulkins, Vice-Chair of the Board, remembers taking her children to Sarah’s Corner in the old Library building on Prescott Street, a place that was small, almost inaccessible to some. It was limited in the services it could provide. Now, Bev says, “My biggest joy is driving by and seeing a bustling lib with people using it, it’s a real community hub. We are dedicated to servicing the entire community and I think we’re doing a good job at that”. She points out that, in 2014, there were more than 92,000 library visits recorded.

Jim Armour, Board member and ex-Chair, puts the new building in context: “We were four small branches in North Grenville. Kemptville was small and inaccessible.

South Gower was also built as a library, but, with South Gower’s growth, it was bursting at the seams.

The Oxford Mills branch

was in an adapted building and was not really suitable.

We were delivering a high level of service with the staff we had. But people were using the branches as a book drop-off, they weren’t staying to use library facilities. The initial promise to the community was that they would get better library service and, also, that this would be an impetus for economic renewal for downtown.”

The closure of the branches has not resulted in many complaints, according to Jim, and the Board are open to suggestions from local community groups about how to provide better service to the rural areas, so long as it is community-driven and financially viable. The central library is kept busy, however, and two new teen programs have been added to the adult and children’s ones that have proven so popular.

The Board members emphasised that running the library is an expensive undertaking, but one they feel has been done in a fiscally responsible manner. Jim Armour points out that the central library “was built on time and on budget. We’ve proved we can manage finances and planning. We had to convince people that there was good economic value in investing in a new library building. Over the years, we’ve made a pretty strong case for the economic spinoffs that can come from a building like this if it is staffed properly, used properly, etc.”

Joan underlined the fact that much of the work is being done primarily by volunteers, and not through tax dollars. Teen programming is being run by a student. She also expressed the appreciation of the Board for all the work being done by the Friends of the NG Public Library.

“The Friends have done a fantastic job of supporting the Library for the past ten years or so. We couldn’t

provide the level of programming support that we do without the Friends.”

But volunteers are not enough, there is also a need for a professional staff in a modern library system.

“Most of the people working for us have at least one, if not two, university degrees”, according to Jim. “There’s a certain level of education involved in working in a library, and we need to remind the public that the people here are professionals. There’s a feeling sometimes that we should just use volunteers. We also need trained professionals.” To ensure a high professional standard, and to attract properly qualified staff, the salary rates for library staff were tied into the municipality’s pay grid, which led to a significant rise in salary costs in 2013-14. This was, however, a one-off adjustment, and salaries and benefits will, in the future, be adjusted in line with municipal staff increases.

Both Jim and Joan agreed on this point.

“Some things are out of our control. If council says here’s the increase, or here’s how people will move up the grid, there’s no way the Board can be out of step”, Jim pointed out. “There’s no way we can avoid this”, says Joan.

“We’re in a municipal building; the municipality issues our cheques, the municipality nominates the Library Board and provides the funding. So, if we are to get out of step, it could be taken to the province”.

The NGPL is, all Board members agree, a benefit to the community at large and downtown Kemptville in particular. Beverly Mulkins notes: “We want this to be a community hub. It is a cultural institution, but we also want all members of the community to come here and enjoy the facilities. If you’re not coming here, tell us why, we want to hear from you”.

And Jim Armour, who

has seen the growth over almost twenty years, sums it up: “We think it’s a real success story and one that North Grenville should be proud of. We have delegations coming here trying to figure out how we did it, and how we manage things here. The best chapters are yet to be written, for there’s just huge potential for this building and this location. If we’re getting almost 100,000 visits each year, and those visitors are combining those visits with other businesses downtown, then the economic benefits are clear.

I think the best is yet to come given the commitment of the community”.

SOUPS ON SATURDAY MARCH 7 IN KEMPTVILLE Bring your family and friends to TLC 7th Annual Soupfest to be held Saturday March 7th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Grenville Municipal Centre in Kemptville.

Seventeen restaurants from the neighboring regions will compete in making their best soup from scratch. It is a fun and tasty time for all ages.

The restaurants enjoy the “friendly competition” and the platform to meet the public and promote their business. It's an opportunity to build relationships with the communities.

Vote on who will take the Peoples’ Choice Award this year. Celebrity Judges’ Awards, Brad the Balloon Guy, refreshments and desserts for purchase, Dessert Auction, door prizes, early bird draw for tickets bought before event date, and much more.

Help us make this year the best ever!! Cost: Adult $10, Child $5. Tickets can be purchased at the NGMC. More info call Lynn 613-989-3042.

Like us on Facebook TLC Soupfest. TLC is a ministry of meeting needs, building relationships and sharing the love of Jesus in practical ways.

April 18

North Grenville Municipal Centre

Vendor Booths Available

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Channel your inner Ferris & “Party on Dudes”

Advance Tickets are available at: Joe Computer & Home Hardware, Spencerville - Mr. Gas, Prescott - OLK Insurance, Brockville - Moose Mart, Kemptville www.spencervillefair.ca 125898668RR0001

Seeking dancers for record breaking ‘Flash Mob’ type Event Submitted by Kimberley Wright, Leeds and Grenville Interval House JOIN THE MOVEMENT! Be a part of Dance history on Saturday May 9, 2015!

Shimmy Mob is actively seeking dancers and instructors of all backgrounds to participate in this fundraising event. Participants will be asked to register on line at www.shimmymob.com, and order their “Shimmy Mob Kit” which includes links to online videos of the choreography breakdown, and a “Shimmy Mob” t-shirt to wear on the day of the event.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR DANCERS IS APRIL 4, 2015 Instructors and studios offering rehearsals and Belly Dance Day events will benefit from promotion on the Shimmy Mob website and other promotional efforts.

ALL funds raised by this event in our community will once again this year benefit Leeds and Grenville Interval House.

Last year’s event and related activities raised $1,452 for the Brockville Shelter. Let’s see how much we can raise this year!

For additional information about this local initiative, please contact: Karen MacNaull at 613-213-9831.

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March is National PROBUS Month

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Enjoying fellowship before the Probus meeting starts

by Anna Van Adrichem Rochon

The North Grenville PROBUS Club in Kemptville is happy to celebrate National PROBUS Club during the month of March in our community with the rest of Canada’s membership. The local club has almost one hundred members who meet at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church on the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 am.

PROBUS is a local, national, and international association of retired people who come together in non-political, non-sectarian, non-profit, non-fund raising autonomous clubs which provide regular opportunities for members to meet others in similar circumstances and similar levels of interest, make new friends, and maintain and expand their interests.

The title comes from the make-up of the members: PROfessional and BUSiness people. The first club in Canada was certified on March 17, 1987 in Cambridge, Ontario.

The association of PROBUS with Rotary goes back to PROBUS beginnings, when Rotary participated in and sponsored the formation of clubs the world over. The PROBUS ideal immediately appealed to the wider

community, and now new clubs are accredited by PROBUS itself through a central body, as in Canada, or through other clubs. Rotary remains a significant part of our past, and as part of a continuing strong bond still participates at times in the formation of new clubs, as was the case in our community. The North Grenville Club was chartered in 1999.

Members join together in clubs, the basic purpose of which is to provide regular opportunities to keep their minds active, expand their interests and enjoy the fellowship of new friends. The basic purpose of a PROBUS club is to provide regular gatherings of people, who, in

Presently, there are over 4,000 clubs the world over, comprising more than 400,000 members. ln Canada, there are 240 clubs with over 32,000 members. Everyone is welcome to visit the club to learn more. The March meeting will be held on March 18, and the speaker is Peter McKenna from Rideau Community Health Services presenting the topic "Health Links".

Then, in April, the speaker is from the Irish Embassy.

their retirement, appreciate and value opportunities to meet others in similar circumstances and with similar levels of interest.

The clubs provide options for members to maintain a path of fellowship and learning, and to remain connected to our friends, our community, and the world. This "connectivity" is a driving force underlying a member's participation in PROBUS. The club has had diverse speakers, such as a world renowned Arctic photographer, the Ambassador of Sweden, authors, a stem cell researcher, world travellers, doctors, and a person who provided an overview of aircraft safety as it relates to bird strikes.

Send in your letters to the editor to editor@ ngtimes.ca

President Emile Lajoie opening the meeting

February 25, 2015

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Editorial

The North Grenville Times

She’s leaving home

seem to honestly think they are irresistible. No matter how many times a woman may tell them she is not interested in them, they insist that she’s just teasing and wants him to keep hassling her. The concept that “No”means “No!” seems to be too difficult for some men to grasp. There are (too many) men who think that being drunk, or angry, or frustrated with life is a reasonable excuse for hitting a woman. “It’s not my fault”, they whine, “I was drunk. I couldn’t help it and it will never happen again.” Sorry, if you got drunk, that was your decision; and, if that decision led to you hitting someone, then that is definitely your fault.

“It will never happen again” is probably one of the most common lies heard by women in Canada today. I used to wonder why abused women stayed in that relationship, why they didn’t just leave and escape the despicable bully. But look again at that statistic about shel-

ters above: every day in this country, more than 3,000 women do try to escape, and a good number of them find there’s nowhere for them to go.

It is thought by police reports that only about 10% of sexual assaults are reported by female victims. Why? Because in many cases, the women are not taken seriously, their claims are not believed, and courts find it hard to reach safe verdicts. Until, that is, the women are killed, often after trying to seek help from police and social services.

No-one is denying that there is such a thing as false memories, false accusations, and that some women are just as nasty, abusive and vindictive as the worst of men. That is not the point. Women are, statistically, more vulnerable and victimised than men. Statistics Canada reported that violent crime against women was about five per cent higher than it was for men. But women were 11 times more likely

The Voice of North Grenville

to suffer a sexual offence than men were, and were three times more likely to be the victim of criminal harassment. Those are the disgraceful facts of life in Canada. The same pattern is repeated around the world, often with far worse statistics.

Society has not yet caught up with reality.

We still display a sadly juvenile attitude to women and girls. One of Canada’s most talented young athletes is Eugenie Bouchard, a rising star in international tennis circles. She played in the Wimbledon final last year, becoming the first Canadian to appear in a Grand Slam final. Last month, at the Australian, a male interviewer asked her, on court, to do a twirl for the crowd to show off her outfit. Eugenie was clearly embarrassed and caught off guard, but did as she was asked. Later, she commented: “I don't know, an old guy asking you to twirl. It was funny”. And she didn’t mean funny in a nice way either. Imagine

International Women’s Day is coming soon, on March 8 to be precise, and we at the NG Times intend to mark it as an important event for our community.

Now there are those, most of them men, who will complain that there isn’t an International Men’s Day, and begin spouting stuff about feminazis and how things have gone too far already. And I agree that some of the claims made by the more extreme feminists are a bit much.

For example, I not only don’t believe that there would be fewer wars if women were in charge politically, the facts of recent history refute the idea. Remember Margaret Thatcher in the Falklands, or Northern Ireland? Remember Golda Meir in Israel, or Indira Gandhi in India? No, we’re all human and neither male not female has a monopoly on good behaviour.

But let’s look at some of the facts about the sta-

tus of women in Canada.

A survey held in 1993 showed that half of all Canadian women have experienced physical or sexual violence That number comes from Statistics Canada, whose Violence Against Women Survey looked at women over the age of 18 across the country. It is an old statistic, but that is because no other survey since 1993 has asked about the question.

In Canada, more than 3,000 women stay in shelters on any given night to escape abuse. Based on surveys filled out by most of the approximately 600 residential shelter facilities in Canada, a Statistics Canada study found that on a given night, about 3,300 women across the country were sleeping in shelters to escape abuse.

About 420 women are turned away each day, half of them because the shelter they're trying to access is full.

It continues to amaze me that there are men who

Letter to the Editor

Food costs up 8% in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark

by David Shanahan

Dear Editor: I wish to express my appreciation for your local newspaper, the 'North Grenville Times'. With morning coffee, I indulge in the written articles and the colour photos. Also, it's the only newspaper that doesn't make me sneeze!! Perhaps better ink? For this week's edition, I also appreciated our Councillor Frank Onasanya's letter to the residents of North Grenville…his honest communication, even though many are opposed to the higher municipal taxes. His explanation was appreciated and hoping for more updates from our Councillors as to the community and what goes on at City Hall.

Thank-you to you and your staff for a fine looking paper with great content!

Sincerely, Robb White North Grenville

Submitted by: Marie Traynor MSc, RD, Registered Dietitian and Public Health Nutritionist Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit The Health Unit has completed the 2014 Nutritious Food Basket costing for Leeds, Grenville, and Lanark counties. The monthly cost of feeding a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children) is $838. This is an 8% increase from 2013. This annual food costing, conducted by all 36 Ontario Public Health Units at the same time each year, calculates the price of 67 food items using the lowest cost at each grocery store and estimates the average cost by age and life stage group.

The challenge with the rising cost of food is that as other costs of living increase, such as rent and utilities, there is less and less money available to buy healthy food. Not

children in school Child care expenses Unexpected expenses It is not only families who rely on employment insurance, disability insurance or social assistance that are at risk of being unable to afford healthy food. Individuals who are working at lower paying jobs are often trying to support themselves or their families with a minimum wage income that is not enough to allow them to buy healthier food options.

According to the 2013 Canadian Community Health Survey, 9.3% of people in Leeds, Grenville, and

only does it become more difficult to choose healthy foods, it sometimes becomes a choice between eating well enough and paying for expenses.

While the following list may not apply to every family, it gives a sense of expenses that may have to take priority, consequently pushing healthier food options further from reach.

Rent and utilities Telephone Laundry Toiletries and household cleaning products Insurance Transportation (bus pass, taxi or expenses associated with running and maintaining a car) Clothing for all family members Debt payment Gifts Non-prescription drugs and dispensing fees for prescription drugs Banking service charges Costs associated with having

February 25, 2015

Marketing Peter Peers peter@ngtimes.ca 613 989- 2850

www.ngtimes.ca 613-258-5083

Editor David Shanahan david@ngtimes.ca 613-258-5083

Copy Editor Pat Jessop editor@ngtimes.ca 613-258-5083

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healthy food, go to the Food Security section at www.healthunit.org/nutrition/

Mailing Address P.O. Box 35, Oxford Mills, ON, K0G 1S0

ISSN 2291-0301

The North Grenville Times is published weekly by North Grenville Times Inc. Marketing Gord J. Logan gord@ngtimes.ca 613-258-6402

Lanark reported not being able to afford the food they needed in the previous year.

To learn more about not being able to afford

anyone asking Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, or even Andy Murray, to do a twirl for the crowd. Those guys would probably find a new use for the tennis racket.

There must be a way for women to feel good about themselves without feeling uncomfortable, under unwelcome scrutiny, or not taken seriously. This is an issue that needs time and space, and, perhaps, more attention than for just one day a year.

Graphics Micheal Pacitto mike@ngtimes.ca 613-710-7104

Accounting Staff Reporter cfo@ngtimes.ca Beth Nicol 613-258-4671 beth@ngtimes.ca 613-258-0033

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Municipality Matters

The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Municipal Finances

by David Shanahan Given the concern that has been expressed by the public over the latest tax rate increase in the 2015 municipal budget, the NG Times met with Chief Administrative Officer, Brian Carré, to clarify some of the questions which have arisen.

The following questions were put to Brian: Is this year’s increase of 6.18% a one-off adjustment, or will there be further similar adjustments next year?

What is the basic reason for such a sudden adjustment, given the lack of significant increases in recent years? Aside from the 2% increase each year re asset management, is there a projected % increase for inflation, increased costs in 2015, etc. that can be expected next year? Recommendations were made by staff to council re staffing levels and salaries. Is there much flexibility in that area? What, if any, are the budget implications of the Kemptville College situation?

The CAO was very forthcoming in answering the questions. “The

2015 Municipal Budget was a difficult one for everybody. The figure of a 6.18% rate increase was arrived at after much discussion and examining many options to see if it would be possible to limit the increase”, he noted.

“The only alternative to the increase was to borrow money to begin to address infrastructure needs and rebuild the capital reserves of the municipality, and that was an option that was rejected after consideration, because the municipality is approaching 50% of our borrowing limit, and it was felt that further borrowing would not be in the long-term interests of the community.”

Borrowing, the use of reserve funds and revenues derived from growth, had allowed previous Councils to avoid a tax rate increase for a number of years in the past, but that choice has had some negative consequences. The Municipality has a long list of loans to repay over the coming years, as well as interest charges on those loans. Our infrastructure (roads, vehicles, equipment, etc.) has been aging

and needs to be upgraded, replaced, or maintained.

This has meant that the municipality had to institute a ten-year plan which requires an annual tax rate increase of 2% between now and 2024 just to meet infrastructure costs.

Ironically, it seems that, since we, as a municipality, did not raise taxes to pay for past projects, using reserves and borrowing to cover those costs, the Province of Ontario has rejected applications for funding for North Grenville on the basis that we can afford to pay for projects ourselves. According to the Province, we have shown that we can afford to pay because we haven’t raised taxes for so many years. If this is so, then we are, in fact, being penalised for paying for development through borrowing. The Province has told North Grenville that other municipalities are in greater need of funding support than we are, because they have had to raise taxes as part of their budgets. The municipal council believes this reasoning to be unfair and unsound, and, along with

staff, intend to meet with provincial officials and ministers to clarify our situation and their decisions.

Although there needs to be an average of 2% annual increase to cover inflation under the new budget plan, it is hoped that there will be some fluidity in operating costs that should result in some savings. If the inflation rate drops, it may be possible to transfer some of that revenue into the municipality’s reserve funds, to cover unexpected capital costs, or other expenses, without having to go to the taxpayers every time.

The 2% inflation coverage and the 2% infrastructure element were part of the 6.18% increase this year. There was also a .5% increase to cover the grant to the Kemptville District Hospital.

Previous Councils made a commitment to the KDH and the greater part of the donation is coming due over the next few years.

These annual contributions of $100,000, rising to more than $200,000, will be a challenge for future municipal budgets.

We are now receiving orders for the 3rd printing of School Days Past.

We have a few books that have not been picked up from the 2nd printing. In some instances, the contact information was not provided or the telephone number may not have been recorded properly. Would you please contact Ann at 613-2584344 if you ordered a book from the second printing and have not yet received your copy.

MEMORIES - MEMENTOES - MEMORABILIA

1808

School Days Past

1965

CLOTHIER'S MILL * KEMPTVILLE * SOUTH GOWER * OXFORD-ON-RIDEAU

Council have decided that this commitment should be met, but we have to think carefully about how we can do so without causing even more stress on our finances.

The balance of the tax increase covers the loss of revenues from provincial sources which we’ve experienced over the past three years. Losing more than $1 million from the municipal budget was a heavy blow and staff have to find ways of replacing the lost dollars without cutting services, or adding more service and user charges. Staff are looking at shaving about $45,000 from staff costs and that is the result of a detailed and serious attempt to find savings in that area. It is thought that more cannot be cut without affecting the level of service taxpayers have come to expect. The population of North Grenville has grown greatly and demands on municipal services, and therefore on staff, have also increased.

There are no easy options.

On the subject of the municipality’s commitment to Kemptville College, Brian was quite defi-

nite. “The question regarding Kemptville College is easy to answer. There are no budget implications, not a penny of taxpayers’ money will be spent on the College. This has been made clear to the Province and it is a fundamental part of our approach to talks with them.

“I would like to be able to say that this important adjustment is a one-off event, and that next year there’ll be less of a hit on taxpayers. But I can’t predict the future and can’t promise that such will be the case. What I can promise is that the municipality, both staff and council, are committed to the most responsible use of tax dollars possible. All of us are taxpayers too, and we share the burden.”

Chief Administrative Officer, Brian Carré

Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine in Kemptville

If you suffer from back and neck pain, arthritis, depression, insomnia and stress, you are welcome to have a

Free FIRST TREATMENT (The offer is valid until March 12, 2015)

Open: Thursdays 1 p.m - 6 p.m

To make an appointment call:

613-215-0507 44 Balmoral St., Kemptville, ON

The North Grenville Historical Society

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The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

How to get through tax season with a smile (NC) Spring is not far off, but with one hurdle first: tax time.

Turn it into an advantage for yourself with a few easy tips: File, pay on time – and online If you owe taxes, file and pay on time and you won't get charged late filing penalties and interest. If you don't owe taxes, you should still file on time. This will ensure that you receive your Canada child tax benefits or GST/HST credit without delay. If you're expecting a refund, you can have it in your bank account in as little as eight days if you file online and sign up for direct deposit.

Claim your tax credits • Medical expenses – You can claim amounts spent on eligible medical expenses, including prescription drugs, medical devices, and special dietary needs. If you have medical coverage through your employer, you can claim the amounts that were not covered by the plan.

• Charitable donations – If it's your first time claiming charitable donations, or your first time since 2007, you may get an extra 25% credit your donation, to a maximum of $1,000.

• Fitness and arts credits for kids – The children's fitness and arts tax credits help make the cost of art lessons and organized fitness activities for your children under 16 a little more affordable. You can claim up to $1,000 (under proposed changes) in eligible fitness-related expenses, and up to $500 in eligible arts-related expenses per child.

• Family Tax Cut – It's a proposed non-refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 available to eligible couples with children under the age of 18, and is effective starting with the 2014 tax year.

WARNING!!

Taxes are your Largest Lifetime Expense!

What are you doing to Minimize Tax? At Solution One Financial, we don’t just prepare tax returns to minimize tax, we also provide Tax planning strategies to help you reduce this ongoing expense and grow your wealth.

• Senior Tax Professionals Complete or Review all Returns

Ask for help If you have a modest income, a simple tax situation, and need help completing and filing your return, many community organizations host tax clinics that may be able to help you. To see if you are eligible for the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program go to www.cra. gc.ca/volunteer.

• Fast Turnaround due to our Efficient Preparation Process • Advice & Strategies for Business, Rental properties, Employment Expenses, Individuals and Corporations • Registered e-Filer with CRA. Refunds usually 7-10 days • “CRA-Protected” 5 Year Accuracy Guarantee

Ask for a payment plan The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) understands that some taxpayers may be going through a tough time. If you owe taxes but can't pay, talk to the CRA about your situation. You may be able to set up a payment arrangement which lets you pay in smaller chunks over time. More information is available at www.cra.gc.ca/paymentarrangements.

Don't leave your taxes to chance Getting a refund or having a balance owing when you file your return is not like winning or losing the lottery. It's simple math. If you're consistently getting a refund, it means you're paying too much tax during the year. If you always have a balance owing, consider having more taxes deducted at source, increasing your instalment payments, or putting money into a registered retirement savings plan. www.newscanada.com

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www.SolutionOne.ca 613-258-9492

3 Clothier Street, Kemptville ON

Guillermina Cobian, DFA February 25, 2015

Jim McManaman, MFA

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The Voice of North Grenville

New policy on concussions in Schools The Ministry of Education has issued a directive requiring every school board in the province to establish a policy concerning concussions among students attending area schools. Based on the concussion protocol outlined in the Ontario Physical Safety Guidelines, the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario [CDSBEO] and the Upper Canada District School Board [UCDSB] have partnered with local health units to develop protocols that include strategies to develop awareness of the seriousness of concussions, prevent and identify concussions, manage procedures for diagnosed concussions, and train Board and school staff.

“The new Board policy and procedure will build awareness and provide a guide for proper identification and management of concussions in schools,” explained Frances Derochie, Principal of Curriculum for CDSBEO. “Symptoms and proper

recovery procedures are not widely recognized, and improper management has been linked to chronic brain disorders, so it is paramount that school staff is educated.”

David Coombs, a superintendent with the UCDSB, said the policy recognizes the risk children and adolescents are at to suffer concussions.

“There’s potential for prolonged symptoms and recovery from symptoms, even more so than many adults,” he said. “These kind of injuries can take place at any time.”

Concussions are brain injuries that can cause changes in the way the brain functions and symptoms can be physical, cognitive and emotional or behavioural. They can be caused by a direct blow to the head, face or neck or by a blow to the body that transmits a force to the head. Concussions can also occur when there has been no loss of consciousness. Prevention is key in the school environment,

Fund creates opportunities for Social Entrepreneurs The Ontario Government is providing funding to eleven organizations that support early-stage social enterprises. Premier Kathleen Wynne announced these investments recently at the Economic Club of Canada. Through the Social Enterprise Demonstration Fund, Ontario will support eleven social finance organizations across the province. These organizations will, in turn, provide loans or grants to early-stage social enterprises, helping them start or grow their businesses.

Ontario's $4 million contribution is expected to leverage more than $6 million in investment from other sources, including the private sector.

Social enterprises are ventures that use business strategies to drive social, environmental and economic change. There are about 10,000 social enterprises in the province that employ an estimated 160,000 people, and, over the next decade, the global social finance market is expected to generate up to $1 trillion in new impact investment capital.

In her announcement, February 25, 2015

Premier Wynne said: “The social and economic aspects of our government’s plan are interconnected.

A society where everyone has the opportunity to contribute in a positive way is the foundation of our future prosperity. We’re proud to invest in savvy entrepreneurs who will improve life for people in Ontario, while driving economic growth and creating jobs.”

The announcement was welcomed by Tonya Surman, Co-founder and CEO of the Centre for Social Innovation, one of the eleven organisations receiving funding. “The Social Enterprise Demonstration Fund will help in tackling some of Ontario’s pressing social issues. It provides a chance for collaboration between the government, private and not-for-profit sectors. It will connect capital to good ideas that are designed to make a positive difference for people and their communities, and the fund will also contribute to building interest and investment in this important sector.”

of a concussion, which, for some students, can mean a slow return to the learning process. “As you have to ease a child back into play, you also have to ease that child back into learning,” he said. In the event that an incident does occur, the new protocol will equip school staff with the necessary tools to be able to identify possible concussions, respond effectively to the injury, and manage the student’s return to the learning environment and gradual return to physical activity. The new policy also ensures a recognized standard of care for the management of concussions, as advocated by experts in the field of concussion prevention and management.

Videos about concussions will also be shown to all school councils and parent involvement committees by the UCDSB. The board is producing its own videos featuring students who have suffered concussions. “We think (the videos) will be very advantageous, both for teachers, so they get the student perspective of what it’s like to come back to school when you’ve had a concussion, but also for parents, who can increase their awareness of how to deal with students who may have had a brain trauma,” according to David Coombs.

and educators should work toward identifying and minimizing risk. Research demonstrates that a concussion can have a significant impact on a student – cognitively, physically, emotionally, and socially.

It is very important to students’ long-term health and academic success that individuals in schools have information on appropriate strategies to minimize the risk of concussion, steps to follow if they suspect that a student may have a concussion, and effective management procedures to guide students’ return to learning and physical activity after a diagnosed concussion. Part of the new policy involves ‘return to learn’ strategies, which can include adjusting the student’s timetable or schedule, building in more frequent breaks during the school day and providing more preparation time for the student to answer questions.

David Coombs highlighted the need to understand the cognitive effects

The North Grenville Times is Locally Owned and Operated

UPDATE UPCOMING MEETINGS COUNCIL Monday, March 9th, at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Centre.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Monday, March 2nd, at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Centre. For agenda information, please contact the Clerk’s Office or the Municipal website.

OPEN HOUSE ON THE PROPOSED WATERFRONT TRAIL The Municipality is currently planning a new multi-use trail including various pedestrian waterfront pathways and a river crossing along the South Branch of the Rideau River, beginning approximately 150 meters west of the Prescott Street Bridge and ending at County Rd. 43.

A Public Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 4th, 2015 at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, Halls B & C, from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. This Open House will provide an overview of the study and an opportunity to discuss the proposal and solicit feedback from residents.

WINTER PARKING RESTRICTIONS Parking on Municipal roads is prohibited between 11:00 pm and 8:00 am from November 15th to April 15th. A vehicle which is parked in a manner interfering with snow clearing/removal may be issued a ticket and/or removed at the owner’s expense.

For info call 613-258-2438 ext. 6.

2015 BURN PERMITS In accordance with By-Law 33-12, a Burn Permit is required to conduct open burning on property located outside of the urban area. Burn Permits for 2015 are available at the Municipal Office or at the Fire Hall at 259 County Rd. 44 for a fee of $15. Please contact the Fire Hall at 613-258-2438 ext. 5 for conditions prior to burning.

2015 DOG LICENSES Renewal notices have been mailed to all currently registered dog owners. If you are not a currently registered dog owner, please contact By-Law Services at 613-2582438 Ext 6 for further information. The 2015 rate for Dog Licenses is a flat fee of $15 for each dog. For information on Kennel Licenses, please contact By-Law Services.

The Municipality of North Grenville 285 County Road 44 PO Box 130 Kemptville, ON, K0G 1J0 Tel: 613-258-9569 Fax: 613-258-9620 general@northgrenville.on.ca Building: 613-258-4424 Fax: 613-258-1441 Fire Services Info: 613-258-2438 Fax: 613-258-1031 By-Law Services: 613-258-2438 ext. 6 Police Administration: 613-258-3441 Animal Control: 613-862-9002

www.NorthGrenville.ca

Employment Readiness Workshops March 2015

Date

Events

March 3

Information and Decision Making, 10:00—11:30

March 5

Resumes and Cover Letters, 1:00—2:30

Mapping the journey to successful employment

March 6

Labour Market Information, 9:30—11:00

March 10

Information and Decision Making 1:00—2:30

March 11

Smart Serve, 9:00—1:00

North Grenville Employment Resource Centre 125 Prescott St Kemptville Call to register: (613) 258-6576 (800) 214-7066

March 12

Job Search Strategies, 9:30—11:00

March 13

Social Media, 1:30—3:00

March 17

Information and Decision Making, 10:00—11:30

Follow CSE on: Next Month’s Highlights Working from Home Summer Job Service 2015 Employer Applications are now available on our website

March 18

CSE Outreach in Merrickville (Merrickville Health Community Centre), 9:00—12:00 Drop-in Resume Rescue Clinic, 10:00—2:00

March 19

Interview Types, Tips and Techniques, 9:30—11:00 CSE Days! All Day coffee and snacks!

March 20

Workplace Excellence, 1:00—2:30

March 23

Portfolios and Networking, 10:00—11:30

March 24

CSE Outreach at TR Leger (Kemptville Campus), 9:30—12:00 Information and Decision Making, 1:00—2:30

March 25

Service Canada Outreach, 9:00—3:00 (closed 12—1 for lunch)

March 26

Career Dimensions, 9:00—1:00

March 27

WHMIS, 9:00—12:00

March 31

Information and Decision Making, 10:00—11:30

Check out our online job board at: www.cseconsulting.com Employment Ontario programs are funded in part by the Government of Canada. Les programmes Emploi Ontario sont financés en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.

7

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301 Rideau Street, Kemptville

The Voice of North Grenville

Regular Store Hours: Mon.- Fri. 8 to 8, Sat. 8 to 6, Sun. 9 to 6

613.258.3014

18x500ml

179 Prices effective: Friday, February 27 to Thursday, March 5, 2015 “We reserve the right to limit quantities to reasonable family requirements�

February 25, 2015

8

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The Voice of North Grenville

Fundamentals

Truth in advertising

by David Shanahan They say that God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.

Well, he used the Toronto Transit Commission to tell me something last week.

Riding on the subway, I looked up from my book and there was an advertising sign right in front of me. “Creativity is subjective”, it said. “The truth isn’t”. The ad was put there by Advertising Standards Canada to remind people that ads can be as creative and imaginative as you like, but, if they don’t tell the truth, they’re out of order. It was refreshing to be reminded that truth still matters somehow. In our society, people like to be relative, to say things like: “that may be true for you, but not for me”.

A fair approach if you’re discussing opinions about which is the best sports team, the worst singer, the tastiest meal.

Those things are subjective, as the ad said. But there are things which are either true or not true, and there can be no debate about it. New York is a city in the United States, and that’s true. There is a strange animal called the Duck-billed Platypus, and that’s true too. There’s no point in someone saying that the sky is green, because we know it isn’t.

Likewise, Canada will be celebrating its 150th birthday in 2017, and anyone who says it should be in 2020 is wrong. No argument. No debate.

But this raises a question for me. How can I prove the existence of New York, or the Duck-billed Platypus? I could go to New York, or visit eastern Australia to see for myself, but I don’t feel the need to do that. Why? Because I trust the evidence I have already: the testimony of witnesses, the written and visual material to which I have access, etc.

Of course, there’s a lot of testimony and material claiming the existence of aliens, the Bermuda Triangle and all sorts of other things about which there is no universal agreement.

So how do I know what evidence to trust. How do I know what is true?

I can tell you that I have a mother, a brother and a sister living in Dublin, and February 25, 2015

9

you can believe it, even though I might be making that up. How would you know? But some people in North Grenville have actually met them, so that adds credibility to my claim. I can trot them out and have them back me up, and I can show you photographs and letters that also support my story.

Extremely suspicious individuals may suspect I have a hidden agenda in making the claim, however, (such people do exist, believe me), and say I have no scientific proof for what I say. Even if I produce the actual people, they may say that they are imposters, actors I have hired to play my family.

I know, it all seems rather silly, but it goes to the core of a real dilemma we have as people. What do we believe, and why do we believe it? Who do we trust to tell us the truth, and how can we prove it is the truth? Most of the really important things in our lives cannot be “proven scientifically”. Can you prove scientifically that your mother loves you, that you love your children? Can you prove scientifically that Wolfe defeated Montcalm at the Plains of Abraham? In the real world, we don’t expect that kind of proof before we trust and believe. We use other kinds of evidence aside from our physical senses.

As an historian, I rely on different kinds of evidence, evidence that is cumulatively convincing; that is, the sheer amount of evidence, the unanimity of testimony, etc., are enough to convince us that an event really happened, that an individual really existed, or that my wife loves me. These things cannot be tested scientifically, in the strict sense, by repeating them in a controlled environment and recording the results of our observations.

But we place our faith in

the evidence we do have, evidence which convinces us of the truth, of the facts of life as we live it.

When it comes to belief in God, there is, as one writer put it, evidence that demands a verdict.

Belief of that kind is not a matter of opinion, like we use when deciding which is the best team, worst singer, etc. Belief is a matter of facts and evidence, of rational and intelligent consideration of the evidence we have. By definition, the existence of God cannot be proved, or disproved, scientifically. It is not subject to that kind of inquiry, any more than the Plains of Abraham or the love of a parent for their child is. We consider the existence, or otherwise, of God because it is of paramount importance to every human being. If God exists, everything in life is affected by that fact, and we have to adjust accordingly. If he does not exist, then society can go on its merry way, as Paul said, quoting an ancient saying: “let’s eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die”.

This is not a matter for opinion, or half-baked theories. It is not a question for blind acceptance of whatever someone else tells you. It is something that deserves, in fact, demands your careful and rational consideration. The vast majority of the human race, over millennia, have believed in some kind of deity. Were they wrong?

Were they so primitive and ignorant that they didn’t know better? Can we be so arrogant as to dismiss this mass of testimony so lightly? There is evidence that demands a verdict.

Who is telling the truth?

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The Voice of North Grenville

The Stove Store

The Stove Store was established in 1972 by Mel Shannon. From its humble beginnings in the garage of his home, the store eventually moved to its present location at 6 Beverly St., Spencerville. Contrary to its name, The Stove Store does not just sell stoves. It is a major installer of all types of heating and cooling equipment.

Mel Shannon

We carry a wide variety of gas and wood furnaces, fireplaces and inserts, freestanding pellet, wood and gas units, and air conditioners. The Stove Store specializes in geothermal systems, ductless heating systems and cooling units. For those finishing touches, there is a selection of stone facings and mantels.

No job is too big or too small for our factory trained installers and service technicians. All estimates, in home or in the showroom, are completed by qualified and knowledgeable sales staff. And they are always FREE.

Drop by our 1800 square foot showroom. We have over 50 heating units and fireplaces displaying the most up to date products on the market and the newest technology as it becomes available.

Mel Shannon and The Stove Store have set a precedent for hard work, customer service and cutting edge technology and will continue to do so in the future.

February 25, 2015

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The Stove Store, (613) 658-3101 1-888-370-9859 thestovestore@ripnet.com

Also visit us on the web at: www.thestovestore.net

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The North Grenville Times

The Voice of North Grenville

Patients rate Kemptville District Hospital in the top 10 percent in Ontario for Inpatient Care In its fourth annual report of patient ratings of Ontario hospitals, National Research Corporation Canada (NRCC) has recognized Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) in the top 10 percent for inpatient care.

Patients who were surveyed following an inpatient stay at KDH ranked the hospital in the top 10 percent of the province’s 104 participating hospitals for both overall care and their likelihood to recommend KDH to their family or friends.

The “Patient Experience Percentile Report”, released February 12, 2015, reflects survey scores for participating hospitals between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014 and lists the top performing hospitals in a number of sectors.

This is not the first time KDH has been recognized

by NRCC as a top performing hospital: patients

rated KDH in the top 10 percent in the province for inpatient care in the April 2014 NRCC report, and for its Emergency Department in October 2013.

“The continued high ratings by our patients reflect our organization-wide commitment to the patient experience,” said KDH CEO Colin Goodfellow.

“Everybody who works here makes an important contribution to patient satisfaction.”

Lis Angus, Chair of the KDH Board of Directors, pointed out that NRCC also sends participating hospitals detailed survey results every quarter.

“These results not only show us what we’re doing right, they also show us where we could be making some improvements,” Lis said. “Patient satisfaction is one of the most important of the more than 70 indicators we use to measure our performance,” she added.

Kemptville Lions donate to Kemptville and District Home Support Inc. by Beth Nicol On Thursday February 19, members of the Kemptville Lions Club warmed up the Cheryl Brown Senior Centre with a donation of $500 to the Kemptville and District Home Support Inc. As only a portion of the funding that KDHSI requires comes from the United Way, this donation was greatly appreciated and graciously received.

The Lions Club undertakes a number of projects over the course of a year and it is from these that the funds were raised. Included in these are the fall concert, The Scott Wood Show; the sales of Christmas Trees; and the 50:50 Draw which culminates on Canada Day. In a sense, the Lions Club is donating on behalf of those who support its endeavours; it is community service coming full circle.

Kemptville and District Home Support offers a myriad of services for seniors. Drop by the Centre for a visit at 203 Sanders St. or check out the website, www.kdhsi.com for additional information. You can also call at (613) 258 3203. Watch for Susan Smith’s monthly article on seniors’ issues, “Connections,” in the NG Times.

Pictured above (left to right) are: Susan Smith, Executive Director KDHSI; Lion Robert Lecuyer; Matt Felker, President of KDHSI; Jim Heppell, Treasurer of KDHSI; Lions Club Treasurer Wayne Vachon; Lion Gerald Christie; Lions Club Vice-President Allen Sutherland.

Graduation rates in the Catholic School Board The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario [CDSBEO] has released information on graduation rates in its schools. Each year, the Ministry of Education provides the Board with annual cohort based graduation rates. The data is collected through the Ontario School Information System (OnSIS), and helps to identify areas for success as well as areas where students may need support.

The Ministry calculates a cohort graduation rate based on the information they receive from OnSIS for students graduating in four and five years.

Superintendent of School Effectiveness, John Cameron, presented an overview of the 2009-10 cohort graduation rates to the Board of Trustees.

“The Ministry calculation is based on both a fouryear and five-year formula which includes students who have moved from the CDSBEO to another system, and did not graduate, as well as students

February 25, 2015

who have left the province and are beyond our ability to track,” explained Mr. Cameron. “Our numbers consider the total number of students currently enrolled in grade 12 for that specific cohort.”

A significant piece of the data includes accumulation rates. In the analysis of Board credit accumulation for the 2009-10 cohort, results are as follows: • Under the Ministry of Education formula, the CDSBEO 4 year graduation rate is 85.3 per cent (up 2.3 per cent from the previous cohort), and the 5 year graduation rate is 88.4 per cent.

• Of students who stayed within the CDSBEO for the duration of their secondary education (985 students), 90.8 per cent graduated within 4 years, and 93.4 per cent within 5 years.

“This data demonstrates that our students are successful in graduating with their Ontario Secondary School Diploma in a four year period,”

noted Mr. Cameron. “The programs offered to Board students, including our 23 Specialist High Skills

Major Programs, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Personal Support Worker Program, and online

11

learning programs, all contribute to a meaningful graduation outcome for our learners.”

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Feb 26 Feb 26 Feb 28 Mar 6

M ar 7

The North Grenville Times

CROSSWORD

Youngsters of Yore, Kemptville Public Library, 1:30 pm. Guests Pumpkin Creek Minstrels NG Business Builders Meet & Mingle at the Grenville Mutual Insurance, 380 Colonnade Drive, 7-9 pm. Refreshments will be served.

See familiar faces and meet new ones!

Kemptville Legion Breakfast, 8 – 10 am. Adults $5.00 per person, Children under 12 $3.00. All welcome.

Family Fitness Friday at Oxford-on-Rideau PS, 50 Water St, Oxford Mills from 6:30 – 8 pm. Come out and and enjoy a FREE evening for the whole family! MOVE. GROOVE. DANCE. PLAY. HAVE FUN with Zumba and Pilates classes followed by nutritious snacks. www.oxfordonrideau.ca, 258-3141

Soupfest, NG Municipal Centre, 17 restaurants will compete. Help us make this year the best ever!! Cost: Adult $10, Child $5. Tickets can be purchased at the NGMC. More info call Lynn 613-989-3042. Like us on Facebook TLC Soupfest.

M ar 7 88 th and final College Royal, free event for the entire family. University of Guelph, Kemptville Campus. Pancake breakfast 7-11 am in cafeteria. Variety of activities all day.

M ar 14/15 Legion, St Patricks Day Dinner/Dance. Corned beef and cabbage dinner at 6 pm. Dance to follow. Music by the Montreal Celtic Band “THE KITCHEN PARTY”. Tickets $18 per person. Contact Lorena, 613-258-9065, Marilyn, 613-986-1378 or Legion, 613-258-5734

Weekly and recurring events Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

Sat

M,W,F

The Voice of North Grenville

BNI Networking Group Breakfast, Grenville Mutual Insurance Building, 380 Colonnade Drive, 7- 8:30 am. Call 613-918-0430 for more information.

Mixed Pickup 18+ Basketball is back! All skill levels welcome. Holy Cross School on Tuesday, 7-9 pm. $5 per night or $60 for the season.

Please call Jeff or Samantha at 613-258-1847 or samantha.rivetstevenson@rbc.com. Please remember there is no basketball on snow days !

Bridge- St. John’s United Church, 12:15 pm. Cost $4. "All levels of bridge players welcome. Come discover Duplicate Bridge. "Info, contact Sandra at 613-258-2691.

The Branch Artisans Guild, North Grenville Community Church, 2659 Concession Street every 3rd Tuesday, 7 pm. New members welcomed!

The North Grenville Photography Club - Meeting first Wednesday of every month at the Auditorium at the Municipal Centre on Hwy 44. For more info see ngphotoclub.ca.

Bingo- First and third Wednesday of the month, Kemptville Legion.

Games start at 1 pm. All welcome. Refreshments available.

Klub 67 Euchre every second and fourth Wed. of the month beginning Sept 10, 1:15 pm, St. John's United Church downstairs. Everyone welcome, $5.00.

KCCB, NG High School band room,7-8:30 pm. Brass and Woodwind musicians of all levels welcome! Music covers a wide range of musicals, classics, jazz and modern pieces. For more information, email dennis843@gmail.com Bridge - St. John’s United Church, 6:45 pm. Cost $5, partner preferred but not necessary. For more info, contact Sandra at 613-258-2691.

North Grenville Toastmasters - Meeting 1st & 3rd Thurs. of the month, 7 pm at O’Farrell’s Financial Services, Cty Rd 44. Info, call 258-7665.

Friendship lunch, Leslie Hall, Clothier St. W. Sponsored by St. James, St. John, Kemptville Pentecostal Tabernacle, Salvation Army and Holy Cross churches. Serving begins at 11:30 am. No charge. Goodwill offering. All are welcome.

The Kerith Debt Freedom Centre. Confidential coaches will help you get out of debt and stay out of debt. Free, open on the 2nd and 4th Sat. of the month from 9:30-11:30 at the NG Community Church. Appointments can be made at kdfc.ca or by calling 613-258-4815 x103.

Kemptville and Area Walking Group, Municipal Centre - Early birds: 8 am, others 8:30 am. Contact: Eva 258-4487.

ACROSS 1. Alike 5. Tubular pasta 10. As a result 14. Distinctive flair 15. Steer clear of 16. Pledge 17. After-bath powder 18. Forever 20. Craftsperson 22. Breathing tube for swimmers 23. Beam 24. Unlawful rate of interest 25. Denying 32. Grownup 33. One after eighth 34. Mist 37. Stringed instrument 38. After ninth 39. Opera star

40. Santa's helper 41. Steam 42. Flax fabric 43. Presenting 45. Scrawny one 49. Biblical boat 50. Supply 53. Smiled contemptuously 57. Strictly obeying the law 59. Part in a play 60. Midmonth date 61. Positive pole 62. Being 63. Legal wrong 64. Pariah 65. Colors DOWN 1. Bristle 2. Winglike 3. Kiln-dried grain 4. Gird

SUDOKU Easy

Hard

5. Melon tree 6. Not odd 7. Neither ___ 8. Bites 9. Biblical garden 10. Package holidays 11. Japanese verse 12. Express audibly 13. Timidly 19. Bully 21. Sodium chloride 25. Broad valley 26. Bucolic 27. Ride the waves 28. Bumbling 29. Of lesser importance 30. Foreword 31. Greatest possible 34. French for Finished or Done 35. Baking appliance 36. Mob 38. Buff 39. Bargained 41. Wakefulness 42. Attraction 44. Terpsichorean 45. Divided 46. Doctrine 47. "Message received and understood" 48. Nautical for stop 51. Found on rotary phones 52. Feudal worker 53. On the left or right 54. Optimistic 55. If not 56. D D D D 58. Not bottom

Medium

Solution to last week’s Crossword

Solutions to last week’s Sudoku

February 25, 2015

12

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CLASSIFIEDS First 10 words are FREE for North Grenville Residents. Extra Words: 50 cents a word. Email classifieds@ngtimes.ca SERVICES

House Cleaning-Every working Mother and Father needs The Pet Nanny - Pet sit- a House Wife. Sandi 613-219ting, dog walking Kempt./ 7277 Merrickville. 613-979-2616 petnannykemptville.com

Property cleanup,trees/ b r u s h / y a r d waste,scrap,dump runs,anything removed Wayne Scott RR#5 Kemptville 613-286-9072 SERIOUS ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT? www.herbalone.com Effective, affordable programs and/or products.

Call 613-258-4242 Mention this ad to SAVE 10%.

Al’s Cleanup Services Dump runs, Grass, Landscaping Al Scott R R #1 Oxford Station(613) 258-3847 Handyman/Contractor With Years Of Experience. No Job Is Too Big Or Too Small. Unlimited References, Call For Free Estimate 613-791-8597

YOGA for everyone. Wed and Thurs., at YIG. Call 258-9902

The Voice of North Grenville

How to get a little more green every day (NC) Small actions can contribute to big change when it comes to making green choices in the home.

Here are some low-stress steps for your day-to-day activities to help reduce your carbon footprint and create a healthier, greener lifestyle.

Kemptville – 1 bdrm – 506 Rideau St; $800 + utilities; hardwood floors; gas heat; covered balcony; no smoking or pets; available immediately. 613-295-0552

• Eat wisely. A few simple changes to your daily food habits can have a tremendous impact on the environment. Choose to go 100% veggie or eat less meat.

Buy organic and locally grown items when possible and reduce food waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, more than one third of all food produced worldwide is wasted (that's a shocking 1.3 billion tonnes per year). In fact, unused food in a landfill is one of the top sources of greenhouse gases.

Kemptville - 2 bdrm – 506 Rideau St; $950 (water included) + utilities; hardwood floors; gas heat; covered balcony; no smoking or pets; available immediately. 613295-0552

Kemptville 2 bdr house, 4 appliances $900 + utilities, no Food-HealthConnec tions pets. Call John 613 258 2753 seminars for your company, Rock My House Music Centre group, school. Nutrition- 2 bedroom upper level of is looking for Instructors. 613 ist Carol Pillar RHN. www. duplex in downtown Kempt258-5656 w h o l e s u m a p p r o a c h.co m ville. 4 applicances/parking/ 258-7133 water included. Call 613 296 SEWING : Weddings to alter5906. ations at Stonehouse Studio.

Call Sharon 613-224-3182.

FOR RENT Log chalet nestled on a mountainside facing north, Furnished bedroom for rent Mont Tremblant. 4 bedrooms, “DROWNING in MESS?! in private home in downtown fireplace, hot tub. Book now Individually tailored Coaching packages now available Kemptville. Walking distance 613 203 2897 chantillyplace. www.sarahsorganizingser- to all amenities. Rent incl. tremblant@gmail.com utilities. Call 613 878 4738. vices.com” Large one bedroom in Need help with social media? Kemptville, 512 Clothier, 2 Heckston for rent $775.00 Business or personal. Email bedroom apartment in a se- plus utilities. 613-258-4741 alwaysoncanhelp@gmail. niors building, $863 + utilities, no smoking, no pets. 613 Spacious 3 bdrm bungalow. com or call 613-227-3009 294 6819 Fridge, stove, washer, dryer HANDY MAN SPECIALIZincl. Large lot. $1275 + utiliING IN RENOVATION AND Kemptville 4 BDRM Century ties. 613 853 6592FOR SALE HOUSE STAGING. WE DO IT Home Finished basement all For Sale ALL CALL 613 294 2416 appliances 1 ½ baths large deck sauna hot tub 613 720 2002 F350 diesel quad cab 2x4 excelMr & Mrs clean residential/ 0942 lent workhorse $4500 613-314-9327 commercial cleaning. Mrandmrsclean613@gmail.com, Old Town Kemptville – 10 Jeep hard top storage doly/dust 613-867-2184 Prescott St. – commercial cover. Incl. 2 carts, nests together. retail space – 690 sq. ft., $500. 613 215 0253.

Roof top snow re- available immediately. 613moval $100 and up 295-0552 Chainsaw, Makita Model SC341, 16”bar. Spare chain and file incl.

613 2942416 Large 3 bedroom house in $160. Call 613 325 0845.

Nutritional Counselling to Kemptville. 4 appliances. Gas customize a wellness plan heat. $1275 + utilities.

Murray Pro Series snow thrower. for all your health concerns.

Electric start 11 HP/29” $350. Call wholesumapproach.com 613- Old Town Kemptville – 113 613-805-1427.

258-7133 Prescott St. – commercial retail space – 1,878 sq. ft., Qualified English tutor: read- available immediately. 613ing, writing, grammar, etc...I 295-0552 make it fun! 613-269 2367.

• Be energy smart. Canadians are the second largest consumers of energy per capita in the world. Reduce your energy consumption by switching to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, buying low-flow showerheads and fixing leaky windows. Consider getting a home energy audit to see where you can cut back. Check how your appliances measure up with the EnerGuide rating label, and commit to buying Energy Star qualified products.

CLASSIFIEDS: First 10 words free if submitted by email.

Extra word 50 cents, photo $10, border $2, shading $5.

Submit to classifieds@ngtimes.ca.

Email must include name, address and phone #.

Must be related to North Grenville and be paid in advance by paypal!

For Advertising rates please contact Gord at gord@ngtimes.ca or call 613 258 6402

• Get water wise. Reduce, repair, and retrofit. From installing a low-flow toilet, to using an outdoor rain barrel, to taking shorter showers − there are thousands of ways you can save water at home.

• Travel light. Leave the car at home. If possible, walk, bike or take public transportation. If you must drive, carpool. Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle. Fly less. Air travel has a massive carbon footprint—in fact, it's the mode of freight transport that has the most emissions.

Consider greener transportation options like buses or trains, or travel less altogether and utilize technology like video-conferencing and e-mail.

• Check your trash. The average Canadian produces about 2.2 kilograms of garbage each day—that's over 30 million tonnes of waste in total per year. And the majority ends up in landfills. Be diligent about recycling and composting. Check your municipality website or recycling hotline for details and support the Compost Council of Canada.

• Buy smart. Make your everyday food and beverage purchases with the environment in mind. For example, replace your usual single-serve coffee plastic capsule with an eco-friendly choice, such as 99% biodegradeable OneCoffee (also certified organic and fair trade).

You will feel good about making an eco-conscious purchase, without compromising on quality. Simple switches in the grocery aisle have a big impact. Buying them means you're doing your part to encourage more and more sustainable products.

PRINTING & COPY CENTRE Call The North Grenville Times 613-258-5083 SALES/ ADVERTISING Gord Logan at

gord@ngtimes.ca

Classifieds

wanted Car and boat storage wanted near to EQ Homes Kemptville 613 301 6029.

For the surrounding area of North Grenville

• Go to: ngt.treasurechestmarketplace.com • Place your free ad • Click to share it on your social media • Haggle it if you want • Sell your treasures and make money February 25, 2015

13

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The Voice of North Grenville

Kemptville College Royal Kemptville Agricultural School held its first College Royal in 1927 to exhibit the work of students through their course work, etc.. In that first year, animals were shown in the ring on the ground floor of Purvis Hall, and the Agricultural and Domestic Science exhibits were on the second floor, where the Library is located today. Forty years after the first “Royal”, it was described in the KAS Year Book as “this most commendable type of student show...While very modest in extent at first, it has gradually and steadily been developed into what is now considered to be definitely one of the big events of the year”. Sadly, 2015 marks the final year of this great Kemptville College tradition, so it will be a worthwhile visit as we see the curtain come down after almost ninety years.

Locally Owned & Operated Editor: David Shanahan Copy Editor: Pat Jessop Marketing Gord J. Logan gord@ngtimes.ca 613-258-6402

Marketing Peter Peers peter@ngtimes.ca 613 989- 2850

P.O. Box 35, Oxford Mills, ON, 0G 1S0 Office: 613.258.508 February 25, 2015

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The North Grenville Times

Sports

The Voice of North Grenville

Kemptville Panthers Bantam C2 win Capital House League Championship What a weekend!!!

Kemptville Panthers Bantam C2 team proudly represented Kemptville a t t h e 11 t h A n n u a l Capital House League Championships at the Bell Sensplex. It was a busy weekend with Midget and Bantam teams from around the country and the US making up over 90 teams playing at the tournament.

After winning our Round robin games on Friday and Saturday, we played Sunday afternoon in the semi finals to secure our A final against the Kanata Wreckers. Final score 5-3 (actually 6 to 3 but the goal in the last second of play wasn't officially recorded!)

Well Done Team!!!

This continues our track record for the whole season.

Back in December we

won the Sensplex Holiday House League Tournament and in January we were A Finalists in South Grenville Minor Hockey Associations Bantam C Tournament losing a nail biting 3-2 to the Rangers.

We a r e a l s o d o i n g exceptionally well in the Regular League Season accumulating the same points as Athens in the West Division ending up in Second Place based on Goals against.

We are now awaiting the outcome of the 1st round of playoffs to see who we will be playing in the second round in a week or so. Let's go Panthers, Let's GO!!

Submitted by Kevin White Manager, Kemptville Panthers Bantam C2

KWBSC attends SUNY baseball camps

By Dan Piche Over the course of the past few weekends, members of the Kemptville Wildcats Baseball & Softball Club attended several baseball camps at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Canton, NY. Located only 40 minutes south of Kemtpville, these sessions provided an opportunity for youth from our community to experience the game of baseball through the use of world class facilities and expert coaching provided by the SUNY coaching staff and players.

The players worked through many core aspects of the game, working on running, batting, pitching and fielding.

Facilities such as pitching mounds, pitching machines, batting cages, and artificial turf, all indoors in the dead of winter makes these camps a welcomed opportunity in the month of February.

Also, the facilities combined with the fact that these sessions are led by the SUNY coaching staff and the players themselves, makes the entire experience extremely worthwhile. Although the kids were pushed and exposed to advanced concepts, there was no shortage of fun as they inter mixed skills with games, all in a very positive and fun atmosphere throughout the 3 hours sessions.

It was great to see kids playing ball again. It was certainly a welcome change from the long cold winter we’ve had. The baseball and softball seasons are truly around the corner and SUNY camps provide a great opportunity to get a jump on the season.

KWBSC are in discussions with SUNY to offer additional camps and there are plans being organized for more dates in April and May. If your child is interested in taking their skills to the next level, these camps are not to be missed.

If you have not registered your child yet for this upcoming season, please do so now as this is the final week of early bird registration.

Last Week for Early Bird Discounts

The Early Bird Discounts for the 2015 Kemptville Wildcats Baseball & Softball Club 2015 season end this Friday (February 27). Register before then and you can save up to $50.00 per registration.

For Advertising rates please contact Gord at gord@ngtimes.ca or call 613 258 6402 February 25, 2015

Will Colbourne pitches to Adam Sterkenberg, as members of KWBSC attend a camp in Canton NY.

Building a Sustainable North Grenville

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The North Grenville Times

History

Lines on the land

by David Shanahan The landscape of North Grenville has changed beyond recognition since the first settlers arrived here at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It is almost impossible to imagine what the country looked like so long ago, before roads, fields, houses, barns, anything that we now use to orient ourselves in the environment. Instead, all around were swamps, trees, rivers and streams, very few open spaces, and no permanent settlement areas whatever. In every way, it was a blank canvas, waiting for planners to come along and lay out townships, counties, lots and concessions, laying out lines on the land and dividing it in completely new ways.

It is not that the land had been completely empty before that. There was a long history of people crossing through the region, using the rivers as highways, occasionally following animal trails through the thick bush and making them wider and more accessible over years of use. North Grenville,

as we call it today, was always on the frontier, a boundary land between the traditional territories of First Nations to the north and south. Before the mid-1500's, the land south of the South Branch and South Nation Rivers was held by the St. Lawrence Iroquoian peoples, while, to the north, the Algonquins controlled the Ottawa River lands.

For many decades, after the St. Lawrence Iroquoian disappeared from history and were replaced by the Mohawks of the Six Nations, what is now North Grenville was abandoned, empty, a battleground between warring nations, each afraid to settle permanently here, and using the South Branch and main branch of the Rideau system to move against each other.

The French confined their settlements to the far side of the Ottawa River, establishing posts only in the Kingston and Detroit areas. Even after the Conquest, the new British regime ordered that the land west of the Ottawa watershed remain Indian territory, and this area remained outside

INCHESTER PRINT & STATIONERY

European influence.

But then came the Loyalists, those few thousand men, women and children (and their slaves) who fled the new United States to continue living under the British flag and King. Most of them moved to Nova Scotia, or areas of Quebec, but some wanted to stay close to their old homes across the Saint Lawrence and Lake Ontario, so room was found for them west of the Ottawa. For the first time, between 1784 and 1788, surveyors were sent in to draw lines on paper, dividing the land into neat squares and rectangles to provide lots on which the newcomers could built their new lives.

If you compare a map of Ontario to ones of Ireland or Britain, the difference is significant. In the Old World, boundary lines between townlands, counties, parishes, all meander with hardly a straight line in sight. The boundaries follow rivers, ancient tribal lands, and traditional frontiers. But in Upper Canada, as Ontario then was, there were no ancient boundaries, no tribal territories, or none

that the Crown recognised at least. On this unmarked land, straight lines could be drawn, crossing swamps, forests, hills and valleys, with little regard for the natural environment.

When Jesse Pennoyer was sent to lay out the rough boundaries of the Township named Oxfordon-Rideau in 1791, and when John West did the same for South Gower a few years later, in 1799, they pushed their way through every kind of natural obstacle to lay out straight lines on the ground. They marked the corners of concessions, and reduced the wild lands, on paper at least, to nice, regular rectangles of 200 acres each. In Oxford, the Rideau River, or the West Branch of the River Rideau, as they called it, was used as the base line, and concessions lines were laid out parallel to the river, every mile back from that base. Each concession was divided, from west to east, into thirty lots, so that every settler could be given his lot and concession number as it appeared on the surveyor’s grid.

The survey work was not always accurate, and

sometimes rivers were misplaced on the survey maps, but the work of putting lines on the land became the basic framework for North Grenville of today. With a few exceptions, roads run fairly straight, and meet at nice right angles to each other. The exceptions, such as County Road 18, or Bolton Road, follow those old Indian trails that predated the surveys.

The precise line of these roads has been altered in places over the years, to put in gradual bends,

instead of blind junctions; but the basic pattern laid down by Pennoyer and his colleagues at the end of the eighteenth century remains today. We retain names like Concession Road, or Townline Road, which marked the boundary between the townships of Oxford and South Gower before amalgamation.

The lines were laid on the land, and now the little boxes were ready to be allotted to pioneers seeking a new life in a new land. We are the inheritors of their work.

What’s Happening @ KYC Free Programs at Kemptville Youth Centre

Jam Night

6 - 8pm (Wed. Feb. 25th)

Ross McNeil Cook Night 4 - 8pm (Thurs. Feb. 26th)

Movie Marathon ($5 or 5 Volunteer hours) 9 pm (FRI. Feb. 27th) To 7 am (Sat. Feb. 28th)

Please register with Sean@kemptvilleyc.com

Sports Night 6 - 7:30pm (Tues. Mar. 3rd) 5 Oxford St. W. www.kemptvilleyc.com 613-258-5212

Building a Sustainable North Grenville

WINCHESTER PRINT & STATIONERY

WINCHESTER PRINT & STATIONERY

February 25, 2015

WINCHESTER PRINT & STATIONERY

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