Issue 12 2024 March 28 NG Times

Life Drawing Takes Centre Stage in North Grenville

sion. Every Friday from 4 to 7 pm, a dedicated group of artists convenes in the basement of St. John’s United Church on Prescott Street in Kemptville to explore the human form through sketching and drawing.

Led by Jennifer Gow, a passionate local artist committed to enriching the visual arts scene in her community, these gatherings are an opportunity to hone their skills, connect with fellow artists, and contribute to the local cultural landscape.

Art has the power to bring people together, to inspire creativity, and to celebrate the beauty of our surroundings. Jennifer Gow is instrumental in launching this initiative.

Providing a space for life drawing, organizing the models to support local artists with their creative endeavors and nurturing a sense of camaraderie and collaboration within our community."

One distinctive aspect of this program is its emphasis on hiring local individuals to sit as models for the group. By doing so, the initiative not only provides economic opportunities for residents but also fosters a sense of connection and mutual support within the community.

The life drawing sessions began in 2003 and has garnered interest from budding and seasoned artists alike.

As North Grenville continues to evolve as a hub for arts and culture, initiatives like the weekly life drawing sessions serve as a testament to the community's commitment to fostering creativity, connection, and economic vitality.

For more information contact Jennifer Gow at gowjb@msn.com

Legion donates to veterans

by Fiona Plunkett, 2nd VP, PRO, Kemptville Legion, Branch 212

Last month, the Kemptville Legion made the largest donation in our branch’s history. We invited Delphine

Haslé from the Perley Health Foundation for veterans in Ottawa to our General Meeting and presented her with a cheque for $10,000. Perley Health has a dedicated wing with more than 200

beds contracted to Veterans Affairs Canada. Public support of our branch makes donations like this possible.

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The North Grenville Photography Club

New displays at the History Hub

by David Shanahan

There is a new look to the walls at the History Hub at 148 Prescott Street in Kemptville. Two displays that were part of the International Plowing Match event, one on Indigenous History, and the other on the history of Transportation, can be viewed during opening hours at the Hub: Monday through Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

The display consists of panels and captions telling the story of Indigenous society and the various changes in the transportation systems which developed in the North Grenville area.

The Hub is an outreach of the North Grenville Historical Society, which also operates the North Grenville Historical Archives, a repository of documents, photographs, correspondence, artifacts and much more, preserving the story of our community and making it available to the public through talks and publications. More information on the NGHS can be found on the Society’s website at www.northgrenvillehistoricalsociety.ca.

Foggy Andrewsville by Robert Young.

Left to right: Fiona Plunkett, Andrew Wilder, Geoff Gander, Delphine Haslé, Bryan MacRostie, Joanne Dudka, Julie O’Brien, and Cathy Ouellette.

On April 8, 2024, a once in a lifetime solar eclipse event is set to unfold in our region where the moon will completely block the sun, causing the sky to darken. Witnessing the total solar eclipse will be a unique experience and needs to be done safely.

The Municipality of North Grenville is hosting a live-stream viewing of the solar eclipse. This free public event will take place on Monday, April 8, from 2:00 to 4:30 pm in the Urbandale Arts Centre at the North Grenville Municipal Centre at 285 CR 44, Kemptville.

Stay safe while watching the solar eclipse!

For more information, visit www.northgrenville.ca.

Solar eclipse indoor public viewing event

Solar eclipse –safety precautions

It is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing. Looking directly at the sun without proper protection is even more dangerous during a solar eclipse. It can lead to partial or complete blindness if proper precautions are not taken.

Please follow the safety precautions.

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Health Unit has issued safety precautions which are available on their website at www.healthunit. org. Please note that the Municipality does not have eclipse glasses.

Resources:

Learn more about the 2024 solar eclipse and follow the exact path of when it will occur in Kemptville. The solar eclipse is expected to start at approximately 2:11 pm and last for about two and a half hours. The sun will be fully eclipsed at approximately 3:25 pm EDT (Eastern Daylight Time).

Note re NGtransit: NGtransit will operate as normal, but the driver will pull over during totality which could lead to delays in service in the later afternoon.

Kemptville Campus update Moving Seniors Safely

Good Food in Schools Forum at Kemptville Campus

Partners across Leeds-Grenville and Lanark are collaborating to host the Good Food in Schools Forum at Kemptville Campus on April 11. This one-day event will bring together stakeholders working on school food education and programs across Eastern Ontario to share efforts to create healthy and positive school food environments.

Organizers are excited to foster these conversations between educators, students, parents, food producers, community health and community food organizations. “Food security, food education and affordability are front of mind these days, and schools have a major role to play in implementing solutions,” says Ramsey Hart, Executive Director of The Table Community Food Centre in Perth. “Schools today are actively engaging kids in food literacy: building a healthy relationship with food, understanding where and how food is produced, and building their own skills in growing, preparing and serving food.”

The event is being organized by members of Foodcore Leeds Grenville Lanark (LGL), co-led by working group members: The Table Community Food Centre; Leeds Grenville Lanark District Health Unit, and Kemptville Campus. FoodCore LGL is a coalition of food stakeholders and organizations who work on practical steps to build healthy, sustainable and inclusive local food systems in Leeds-Grenville and Lanark counties. The group includes representatives from food production, community health, and community food organizations. Find us online at www.foodcorelgl.ca.

Foodcore LGL has created a Food Charter and related toolkits, maintains a local Food Inventory, and supports food events and programming in our region.

The Forum’s keynote speaker, Sarah Keyes from Sustain Ontario, will present the work of Canada’s largest school food network, the Coalition for Healthy School Food. Other presenters will share their work and experiences in school food programs locally, from school gardens to greenhouses to cafeterias.

The Good Food in Schools Forum is open to all, including educators, students, school board trustees and staff, parents, volunteers, food producers and community food organizations. The event takes place on Thursday, April 11, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Kemptville Campus Education and Community Centre in Kemptville.

For more information or to register please visit the Eventbrite page: www.eventbrite.ca, and search for Good Food in Schools.

It’s well known that Canada is facing a “silver tsunami.” According to the Canadian Institute for Health Research, over the next 20 years, Canada’s senior population is expected to grow by 68%. This means that there will be an unprecedented number of seniors moving, whether downsizing to smaller homes, moving into retired living communities, or relocating to be closer to family.

The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM) and the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) are pleased to announce their partnership in the upcoming program, Moving Seniors Safely. This annual event aims to raise awareness and set seniors up for success with moving. Seniors have special concerns when it comes to moving, including being targeted in scams.

The program aims to equip seniors to be proactive and safe throughout the moving trajectory: from researching future living options, communicating with loved ones about preferences, decluttering and organizing, packing up, and finally ensuring that a reliable moving company is secured and potential scams avoided.

“It can be hard to talk about the future when there are so many unknowns,” Bill VanGorder, CARP’s Chief Advocacy and Education Officer says. “But it’s important to ask yourself, ‘How can I be best prepared given my particular situation? What would downsizing look like? Would living arrangements change if my partner were to pass away, or someone had a bad fall?’ These aren’t easy considerations or conversations, but they are very important, especially in a time in which home and community care, long-term care, and senior housing are in crisis. Being proactive with moving allows you to take charge of the elements within your control.”

Moving Seniors Safely provides many practical tips and insights through online resources including a Q&A webinar led by CAM and CARP on March 27. Some of the information focuses on moving scams that trick seniors into giving money upfront, to seemingly reputable moving companies which ultimately hold shipments hostage for outrageous sums of money.

“The Moving Seniors Safely program has been very successful in raising awareness about scams; we know seniors are doing their research and moving scams targeting seniors are on the decline,” says Nancy Irvine, President of CAM. “That said, when it comes to choosing moving companies, seniors must continue to be aware of red flags such as lowball pricing, expectation of a large cash down payment, being unable to determine the company’s street address, or the company’s refusal to confirm exact shipment information, thus allowing them to bump up the price. Bottom line, it’s always best to check with CAM to find a trusted and reliable mover.” www.mover.net/find-a-mover.

Business Consults

Starting your own business poses questions, challenges, and uncertainty. We can help you analyze your business situation and help you identify opportunities in the marketplace. We can also help you with market research, writing an effective business plan structure, government regulations, licensing information and sourcing finances. There are two centres that service Leeds Grenville, the Small Business Advisory Centre in most of the northern region and Leeds Grenville Small Business in the south and east.

Consults offered in the communities are free. The 45-minute business sessions offer answers to your questions and give you guidance on what steps to take next.

Upcoming sessions: North Grenville:

Host: Leeds Grenville Small Business

When: April 2, from 9 - 12 pm

Where: North Grenville Municipal Centre, 285 County Road 44, Kemptville. www.lgsmallbusiness.com/book-a-consult-ng.

www.northgrenville.ca

What’s going on? See our events calendar: www.northgrenville.ca/events

Stay informed! Council Meetings: www.northgrenville.ca/meetings

Need to see us? Municipal office hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 285 County Road 44, Kemptville

Need to reach us? Contact us: Call 613-258-9569 or email: general@northgrenville.on.ca

Need additional information? Visit us: www.northgrenville.ca

culverts

Days of future past

by David Shanahan

Life (and editorials) have been pretty bleak recently. Lots of things to worry about, politics, wars, famines, wildfires, etc. I felt I needed some perspective on things, so I started looking at old issues of the Times. That may have been a bad idea! As far back as I looked, it seemed that issues and concerns were very much the same as they are todayin North Grenville, at least. But then I came across some articles and editorials from 2020 - March 2020, to be precise.

Do you remember that month? News started slowly creeping out about a strange disease of some kind that was affecting other countries. Social events here in NG were being cancelled out of caution. The Editorial on March 18, 2020 dealt with the phenomenon:

“As of Sunday, March 15, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reported there were 142 confirmed cases of COVID - 19 in Canada of which 62 are in Ontario. 1 person has died. PHAC considers the public health risk associated with

COVID-19 to be low for the general population.”

The next week, things had become more worrying: “...with a death toll of 13 at the time of writing, Sunday, March 22. According to government and international sources, around 80% of cases of COVID-19 will be a mild to moderate illness, close to 14% have severe disease and around 6% are critical. To become infected, generally, you need to be 15 minutes or more in the vicinity of an infected person, within 1-2 metres, to be considered at risk or a close contact.”

We all know what happened next, and it is really strange to think that this was only four years ago this month. There was no idea that the world was going to be obsessed with COVID-19 for the next two years, and there is still a residual effect at every level of society today. Worldwide, the pandemic killed at least 16 million people, and life expectancy declined in 84% of countries. A recent article noted that “Collective amnesia seems to have set in”. Certainly, we have tried to put all of that behind us, as we slowly and carefully

return to what we think of as normal.

This is not to say that all is well. The experience of the pandemic shows that we never really returned to pre-COVID ideas of normal. Lockdowns, social distancing, and the huge surge in conspiracy theories seeking to deny the very existence of a virus, or else claiming it was artificially made by shadowy elites out to depopulate the planet (for some reason), all added to a universal sense of mistrust, anxiety, and outright scepticism regarding authority of all kinds.

The words and deeds of the Trump MAGA movement, both before and since the election of November 2020, have established a new norm in political life.

How does thinking about this help to ease our qualms and provide perspective on

the world in which we now live? Good question. First of all, it shows us that, as the Teacher said: “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”. The pandemic was a tragedy and a wake-up call, but it was not unique. It, or it’s like, has happened before and it is expected that it will again. But lessons have been learned and it is hoped that reactions will be better next time.

But we have, perhaps, forgotten one of the most important aspects of those long months of isolation and uncertainty. Although there was serious social disruption, including a takeover of downtown Ottawa, the closing of businesses, etc., there was also an increase in social cohesion: people started to look out for each other, both locally, nationally, and

Council update

by Brandon Mayer

North

Grenville

Council met twice last week – back to back on the evenings of Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20. With the next most recent meeting being on March 5, there was much business to discuss in last week’s meetings, much of which could be described as “routine”, such as consents for the purchasing of needed equipment, and the handling of day-to-day requests that needed Council’s attention.

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Editor

Marketing/Sales Melissa

One item that stood out on the agenda for March 19 was the approval of the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) expansion contract. Mike Finley, the Municipality’s Director of Public Works, provided Council with an overview of the project, including the expansion work that will be completed in each stage. He explained how the current WPCP (constructed in 1993) functions, and gave an update on the improvements that it will see.

The tender process for phase A was completed last year, and Director Finnley was prepared to ask Council to award the $64 million contract to North America Constructors. After asking some questions, Council agreed to award the contract. The paperwork will be completed in the coming weeks, with construction then expected to start right away. Phase A is expected to take just over two years

internationally. That had always been a feature of life in North Grenville, and it continues today; but there was a heightened awareness of the need to work together, not to allow isolation to leave people stranded emotionally. Remember the motto: “let’s stay apart together”?

I grew up reading about other countries living in fear of nuclear annihilation; school children in North American learning to take shelter under their desks, and so on. In Ireland, there wasn’t the same anxiety because we just didn’t believe anyone would want to bomb us! Of course, instead, we started bombing each other... Another story.

The point is that we have always had times of crisis, of fears for the future, of how quickly and easily our world could fall apart, even literally. But it didn’t, and

to complete, at which point the legwork of phase B will be worked out. Following discussion on the finances of the project, Mayor Nancy Peckford took the opportunity to point out that the plant expansion is a positive sign of North Grenville’s continued growth. She also pointed out that development charges are a welcome source of revenue to pay for such projects.

Also of note from March 19 is that Council received the latest Annual Drinking Water Report for the Kemptville drinking water system. The report showed no adverse water quality incidents.

The meeting on March 20 was much lengthier. It included two public meetings regarding zoning matters – one for Oxford Village Phase II, and one for a proposed zoning amendment on Rideau Street to allow the construction of an 8-unit multi residential unit.

Regarding Oxford Village Phase II – a new subdivision off of County Road 43, west of Food Basics – there was a significant amount of concern raised by members of the community. A resident of Settlers Way (in Settlers Grant, to the north of the subject property) spoke first, describing the construction process as “horrible” and “devastating”, saying that the Municipality’s forests are being torn down, and animals are wandering around looking

it hasn’t, so far. But until Someone more powerful than a Putin, or a Trump, or ISIS, or any other entity with a grudge decides to change the situation, the world will go on as it has gone on to date.

So, yes, we should be worried about what’s happening in the world, and this year will see important events, elections, wars, climate change, and all the other slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to. But there’s nothing new in that, although some of the challenges will be. As the Weavers once sang: but though nations are warring and business is vexed, I’ll stick around to see what happens next. Or, to quote another line from those editorials of the pandemic: the end is not yet. We shall overcome.

for their home. “I feel like Barrhaven has followed me here,” the resident said.

Another resident of the same street raised concerns about the quantity of aquifer water available to feed private wells with the new homes being built. He also raised questions about the adequacy of the emergency services to serve this rapidly growing development.

Yet another resident expressed worry that the new development will be approved prematurely: “I am concerned that if this is approved or parts of it are approved tonight with all these outstanding questions, then we can’t roll back on that. And that’s something that as a citizen I’d like to see our Council be held responsible for.”

The motion on the table was to defer the decision making, and Amy Martin, the Municipality’s Director of Planning and Development, confirmed that there will be opportunities for questions to be answered in future steps of the process. Deputy Mayor John Barclay also pointed out that there is a significant information gathering process that happens when a development request is first made, and he asked Director Martin to give a summary of that process.

The public meeting for the Rideau Street development was much more efficient, with only a few simple questions asked. Council ap-

proved the motion, moving this project forward.

One other interesting motion before Council on March 20 was an amendment to the “Vehicle for Hire” bylaw, in order to remove barriers that may be preventing a Taxi or similar service from being established in North Grenville. For example, it removes minimum experience requirements, as well as the requirement of including a three year driving abstract as part of the permit application. It also reduces the required liability insurance from $5 million to $2 million. The motion passed.

There were no other meetings yet added to the Municipal calendar as of the time of writing. Important highlights from future meetings will continue to be covered in the Times.

Dear Editor, Palestine needs a homeland. The Gaza strip is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea. Why not copy the Dutch. Create land by pushing back the Mediterranean Sea with sand and debris from the war, all along the borders of the Gaza strip to the desired distance. The Dutch are making land this way. So why not push back the sea? What is the cost of this war?

Vito Carini

NGDHS Students move on to SKLZ Ontario finals in Carpentry

Last week, Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) students showed off their carpentry and woodworking skills at the Eastern Ontario SKLZ competition, a continuation of the SKLZ competition held last month in Cornwall.

And a team from North Grenville District High School is moving on to the Skills Ontario competition in Toronto this May. Sam Kirk and Nathan Rogers took silver in the Team of Two Carpentry category, qualifying them for the Ontario finals at the Eastern Ontario SKLZ level.

The event, held March 20 at the Carpenter’s Union 93 in Kanata, was in collaboration with the UCDSB, Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario, and UBC Built, presented by DeWalt. Approximately 110 participants from both school boards across the region showcased their skills in four different woodworking trades. With representation from 11 out of 22 secondary schools, UCDSB had about 49 students compete at the event.

Congratulations to Sam and Nathan, and best wishes for the Ontario final.

Baldwin's Birds

Birds away from our home

Despite the unsettled weather, along with my wife, I took a short trip away from our garden birds to visit one of Lake Ontario's shores and those of Wolfe Island. We had a somewhat chilly couple of days driving around sight seeing and also keeping a sharp eye out for any birds that might be around. We were lucky to spot a couple of Turkey Vultures on our way there and also when coming back, but whilst on the island we got to see a couple of Hawks, some Canada Geese and also some interesting ducks. The latter were quite a distance away from the "dead end" of the road that we had just travelled and heading away from the shore, so not too easy to spot and get pictures of. I was able to get good enough pictures to try and identify them, and am concluding that some of them were Goldeneye Ducks, and a couple of them, judging by the crests on their heads, were Common Mergansers. All lovely birds and a privilege to see.

Prior to spotting these water birds, we had stopped along the road a couple of times when we had spotted Hawks. The first one was patrolling across the fields in search of food in the ditches and was soaring very low to the ground, following its contours. It was difficult following its path visually, and even more so to get pictures of it. The ones that I did get revealed that it was very lightly coloured on its back in flight, with blackish tips to its wings, but the red (rufous) tail was not evident. Neither is it very evident on the one that we saw reasonably close by us later, when we stopped again to see it close to a wooded copse. Every time I tried to get a picture, it would move off and so, when I did eventually get one, it was partially concealed by the branches of the tree it was in. The weather wasn't co-operating either and soon afterwards, we were driving through a snow squall - lovely! Not the best of weather days, but at least we got to see some birds that we don't normally see, especially in the garden. Stay safe and well.

Cheers,

John Baldwin

Nathan Rogers & Samuel Kirk placed second in Team of Two Carpentry and will be moving on to the provincial competition in Toronto. (Photo: UCDSB)

Goldeneye Duck

Red Tailed Hawk

Royals U11-B1 capture Gold in Ottawa East!

by Chris Fox

The Kemptville Royals U11-B1 hockey team travelled to the Ottawa East March Break Tournament over the March 15 to 17 weekend for its third tournament of the year, and came home champion! The team consists of Blyth Martin, Tyler Fox, Greyson Hilton, Kieran Mark, Michael Fox, Jack Holmes, Carter Lizotte, Mason Paterson, Marek Frizell, Mason Walter, Brady Forman, Carter O’Neil, Carson Scott, Tony Charbel and Jakob Meisner, with a bench staff of Head Coach Chris Fox, assistant coaches Ryan Scott, Ryan Lizotte, Ted Forman, Trainer Mike Martin and Manager Paul Frizell.

Game one of the roundrobin saw the Royals up against the Stittsville Snipers, where the Royals made a dominant start to the Tournament. Paterson, who was absent for the Tournament, fired the team up with a mes-

sage of support. After a slow start, the Royals quickly found their game and dominated the play to a 5-0 win! A well-rounded offense led to goals by Hilton (2), Charbel (2), and O’Neil (1), with helpers from Walter, M. Fox, Hilton, and T. Fox, all with one apiece.

The second battle of the Tournament had the Royals face off against the Kanata Demon Slayers, and Kemptville came out on top. The Royals got rolling first with a highlight real one-timer from O’Neil off a great feed from Hilton. The Demon Slayer didn’t back down, and it was a back-and-forth battle to the end, with the Royals finishing with a 5-3 triumph. Centreman Hilton led the charge with a hat trick (3), with other lamp lighters by Charbel (1) and O’Neil (1). Assists came from Frizell (2), Hilton (1), Forman (1), and Walter (1). Solid defensive contribu -

tions made by Mark helped keep the Royals in the lead and bring home the win.

Game 3 brought an outpouring of offense from the Royals against the Ottawa Centre Flaming Knights, leading to an 8-0 victory and a guaranteed bye into the championship game, with a first-place overall finish in the round-robin. Goaltender Martin backstopped the team for a second shutout of the Tournament. Scoring came from all angles, with points from Hilton (2), Walter (2), Meisner (1), M. Fox (1), Frizell (1), and Charbel (1). Helpers were contributed by Scott (2), Hilton (1), Lizotte (1), Charbel (1), and Walter (1).

The championship was set for Sunday March 17, as the Royals went head-tohead in a rematch against the Demon Slayers for gold! The Royals Kingdom were behind the team from the start for the finals. Messages

Congratulations to the U9 Storm House 2 team

Congratulations to the U9 Storm House 2 team for an incredible 2023 / 2024 season. The team entered the season having eight players that were in their first year of U9 and three players that were in their second year of U9.

In three tournaments the team had an outstanding record of 10 wins & 2 loses. In their final tournament, they went 4 wins & 0 loses. What a bright future for Kemptville Storm!

of support and encouragement continued from Paterson, as well as Holmes, who is out for the season with injury. The fans in the building were loud and proud, while messages from as far away as Florida, Arizona, New Brunswick, and beyond lit a fire under the team!

The championship game saw an unbelievable battle, with the first period ending with blanks for both sides. Midway through the second, the Royals faced adversity when the Demon Slayers slipped one in to take the lead. The Royals battled back and tied the game when Charbel netted one, with assists from Frizell and T. Fox. The second period ended with the two sides deadlocked at 1-1. As the third period was drawing to a close, the Kingdom got loud and the tension in the building was high. The Royals ended up on the powerplay with less than 30 seconds remaining. An offensive zone draw saw the Royals take control; a pass from Walter landed on the stick of Charbel who drove behind the net and jammed home the wrap-around winner with 7.9 seconds left on the

clock. The building erupted and the Royals’ bench went crazy. The Royals killed the remaining seconds and won it all in a true nail biter!

The U11-B1 Royals would like to thank their season sponsors for their ongoing support, including David

Walter Financial Services Ltd., McGraw Technical Services, J.D. Barnes Ltd., Annis O’Sullivan Vollebekk Ltd., and Moex Property Maintenance Inc.

Specializing in Residential House Beautification

Weekly, Bi-Weekly, or One-time Cleans

Servicing North Grenville and surrounding areas.

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THOMAS M. BYRNE

Barrister and Solicitor

General Practice Corporate / Commercial

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tom@tmblaw.ca

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The triumphant U11-B1 Royals

Good news for family history fans

Transcript of a letter from here to there, January 25, 1832. [IMIRCE, University of Galway]

by David Shanahan

I am always amazed at how popular family history is in Canada. Library and Archives Canada reports that fully 90% of visitors to their facility are researching family history. Genealogy is a major interest for Canadians because we all come from somewhere else, originally (including Indigenous peoples). A very large percentage of immigrants to Canada, especially Ontario eastwards, came from Ireland in the Nineteenth Century, and Irish genealogical records are a major source of information for those tracing their roots there.

Unfortunately, until recently those sources have been scarce, largely because of the destruction of the Public Records Office in

Words From a "Gremlin"

by Mary Power

Q

.: What starts as a square, moves as a circle, and gives new meaning to the term "Spin the Top"?

A.: Modern Square Dancing, an activity that uses all genres of musicpopular, easy listening, Calypso, and even country - anything that has a steady beat!

North Grenville has its very own Modern Square Dance Club, the Grenville Gremlins, so named when they started dancing at the North Grenville High School in 1969. Our Club was established in 1971, and has had members dancing continuously since then - only the Covid Pandemic forced a two year hiatus before we regrouped. Our location has changed a few times, with many years spent at the now demolished Leslie Hall beside St. James Anglican Church on Clothier Street. Now we are based in the spacious North Grenville Municipal Centre, where we will be celebrating our slightly delayed 50th Anniversary on April 13, from 2:00 - 4:30, welcoming former club members and many other current dancers from throughout Eastern Ontario.

Surprisingly, many residents of the area are still unaware of our existence, even with our annual season opener recruitment drives each September. We dance most Monday nights

through the end of April. Many onlookers are convinced it's not their "cup of tea" - until they try it! It’s a great social activity for teens to seniors, leading to new friendships as well as stimulating that brain/body connection that is so good for us all. Studies verify that dancing has many benefits, both physically and mentally, and many dancers continue well into their "golden years", enjoying the challenges and just plain having fun. Groups of eight mix and mingle in “squares” on the dance floor, with short breaks for socializing, coffee, and occasional sweet treats.

Beginning in 1982, the Grenville Gremlins sponsored a dance dubbed “The Applefest". This was held annually at Kemptville College and attracted several hundred dancers who were treated to excellent dancing and fellowship, all topped off with apple pie and ice cream at the end of the evening. Unfortunately, changes at the College brought an end to the Applefest dance in 1997. Since 2000, we have sponsored a New Year’s Eve dance, which draws dancers from many other clubs.

As well as North Grenville, our members hail from Smith's Falls, Manotick, Chesterville, Williamsburg, and points in between. We charge

Dublin in 1921, in which records from as far back as the Eleventh Century were lost. But two new projects have come as a tremendous aid to tracing your Irish ancestors.

A century after those precious records were lost, a project to restore them from many outside sources was launched. Supported by a €2.5 million grant from the Irish government and employing 14 full - time archivists, Beyond 2022: Ireland’s Virtual Record Treasury, a searchable database, a selection of curated stories, as well as a 3D virtual-reality recreation of the archive building itself as it would have looked in the days before the fire, has been put online for researchers to use. The material is composed of copies

located in more than 70 archives around the world, and damaged documents restored using AI technology, and consists of more than 150,000 records and more than 6,000 maps dating from 1174 to 1922. Included in the collection is a religious census dating from 1766, an invaluable resource.

Beyond 2022: Ireland’s Virtual Record Treasury is available online for genealogists and historians.

Another new source is located at the University of Galway, and also available online free of charge. It consists of a collection of more than 7,000 letters sent to and from Irish immigrants to North America over 400 years. They were gathered over sixty years by Kirby Miller, a prominent Irish-

American historian, who donated them to the University of Galway on condition they be digitised and transcribed, to be made freely available to the public.

A brief browse through the collection revealed the transcript of a letter written by a settler in Oxford-onRideau Township in 1832 to his family in Crossmolina in County Mayo. Sent from the Kemptville Post Office, it gives details on the life of the immigrant, the cost of land and the standard of life compared to back home.

These sources for genealogy are a really important, and unexpected, new asset to those looking to trace their Irish ancestors, and something to be grateful for on this season of St. Patrick.

modest fees for membership and, after our expenses are covered, have made charitable donations to such organizations as the Beth Donovan Hospice and the Kemptville District Hospital.

Modern Square Dance is quite a departure from old time reels that were enjoyed to the sounds of fiddles at barn dances and country fairs - today's dancing is carefully choreographed to tunes old and new – if the music has a beat and you can shuffle/walk/march along to it, it’s a Square Dance tune. Although it may look and sound complicated to newcomers, the "Caller" teaches very basic moves (Allemande Left, Do-si-do, Promenade, etc.) at the beginning of the season, and gradually adds different maneuvers throughout the year. In no time you learn to do a Grand Square, Box the Gnat, Weave the Ring, and yes, Spin the Top!

You can find clubs in many communities in and around the Ottawa area, under the EOSARDA umbrella (Eastern Ontario Square and Round Dance Association). Most clubs meet just once a week, and, periodically, conventions are held that attract dancers from across Canada, the U.S. and indeed the world. (Fun fact: square dancing "calls" are always in English, whether you're

in North America, Japan, Denmark, or elsewhere, making it easy to visit a club wherever you happen to be travelling!).

For more information email us at : kemptvillesquaredance@gmail. com. Or check out our website: https://sites. google.com/site/grenvillegremlins09/home, where you will find everything you need to know about our club, and the EOSARDA site (www.eodance.ca) which has details and links to other clubs in the area. We welcome any interested dancers each September and would love to see you on the dance floor!

• concrete slabs

• in-floor heating

• concrete pumping

Angry Birds by local photographer Jane Rutter

Est. 1988

Dale Monkman

35+ years in business

Family owned business, serving the Ottawa region for over 35 years. Based in Merrickville, ON.

Concrete contractor specializing in

Richard Donald Malcomnson

Richard Donald Malcomnson, age 70, of Kemptville, ON passed away peacefully on March 10th, 2024, surrounded by family. Loving spouse of Betty Malcomnson (nee Workman). Sadly missed by his children, Blake (Lisa Hurlbert) and Shannon, and grandchildren as well as stepchildren and step-grandchildren. Survived by his sister, Cathy Tribe of Australia, and brother, Chris Malcomnson (Mireille) of Smiths Falls. Predeceased by his parents Donald and Adele Malcomnson. A private service will be held at the family's request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kemptville and District Hospital CT Scanner Campaign. Our family would like to express gratitude and thanks to all the healthcare professionals who showed unwavering dedication and compassionate care, especially to Dr. Luong and Shadi.

Condolences can be left at www.eternalcare.ca

Phillips Helen Stewart (nee Snyder)

13 May 1940-19 March 2024

After a protracted battle with abdominal cancer, Helen, surrounded by her family, passed away quietly in her home on Tuesday the 19th of March. She was in her 84th year.

Helen was born on the 13th of April 1940 in Montreal to loving parents Brodie and Mina Snyder (now deceased). She grew up in Montreal West and briefly attended McGill University before enrolling in the nurses training program at the Montreal General Hospital. She worked more than 25 years in various nursing positions including hospital nurse, VON nurse and finally a Public Health nurse, before retiring in 2005. While raising a family and working almost full time she continued her studies and, eventually obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science, a Master’s degree in Education and a second Master’s degree in Philosophy. A lifelong volunteer, Helen was active in the formation of The Kemptville and District Home Support organization, (KDHS) a group founded to provide advice and assistance to seniors in the Kemptville area. She worked with that body for a number of years including serving as the long-time Chairperson of the organization’s Board of Directors.

Helen was the best friend and life partner of Ross, her spouse of 62 years and is succeeded by and will be greatly missed by her adored but generally underappreciated children Catherine, Monica and James, by her grandchildren Susanna, Joshua and Josiah (deceased), by her great grandchildren Sierra and Jasper and by her much-loved sister-in-law Patricia. She was predeceased by her brother Brodie. Special thanks is owed to the palliative team which gave Helen such tender and thoughtful care in the last days of her life. Particularly noteworthy was the work of Dr Tania Zakum and nurses Melissa Morin, Debby Carswell and Lisa Blais.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Seniors Community Services (the successor to KDHS) at 21 Sanders St, Kemptville or online at SENIORSCS.CA. Funeral arrangements include a private ceremony for immediate family members, followed by a celebration of her life to take place later in the spring.

Condolences/Tributes/Donations

Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca

613-258-2435

Conn, Chalmer Robert “Chal”

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Chalmer Robert Conn, on Saturday March 16, 2024 at the age of 79. Left with many happy memories to cherish are his beloved wife Wendy Stringer, his brother Paul (Lonnie) & family, his brother Greg (Peg) & family, his brother-in-law Dan Stringer, and his brother-in-law Bill Stringer (Mary Ellen) & family.

A Private Family Funeral will be held at the Byers Funeral Home, South Mountain. The family wishes to Thank the staff of the ICCU-B of the Ottawa Heart Institute for the care and compassion shown to Chal. In Memoriam donations to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital or the Ottawa Heart Institute would be gratefully appreciated by the family.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the North Grenville Municipal Centre, 285 County Road 44, Kemptville on Sunday April 14, 2024 from 1 to 4 p.m. Special Memories may be shared at 2:30 p.m.

Arrangements entrusted to the Byers Funeral Home (613-989-3836). Online condolences may be made at www.byersfuneralhomeinc.ca

Campbell Brian William

1944-5-18 – 2024-2-21

Beloved husband and best friend of Bridget Campbell. Loving father of Katie and James. Loving grandfather of Kassondra – Great Grandfather to Kingsley and Gavon. Dear son of the late Borden and Ruth Campbell. Brother of Doug and sister Caroline. Brother in law to Dan (Faye) – Warren - Sister-in- law Eileen. Predeceased by brothers-in-law Lauchie and Charles.

Condolences/Tributes/Donations Hulse, Playfair & McGarry www.hpmcgarry.ca

613-258-2435

Strike, Ken (Arthur Kenneth Strike) March 16, 2024

On Saturday March 16, 2024

our father, grandfather and great grandfather Ken, passed away peacefully at the age of 89, in the care of Greenwoods Elder Care on Salt Spring Island B.C.

Ken had a life full of adventure and travel. As a boy he grew up in Gloucestershire England. As a young man he completed University, then fulfilled his duties in the Military.

Ken then packed up his young wife and family and crossed the ocean to Guyana South America where he worked for several years. He then left the heat of the tropics for the snow in Canada, settling in Kemptville Ontario where he worked for the Federal Government retiring as Director of Mediation and Arbitration.

Ken and Gwyn moved to retirement life on Salt Spring Island in 1989 where he enjoyed hobby farming, bee keeping and wine making. Ken was also a lifelong member of the Anglican Church and Masonic Lodge. He will be missed by many friends and acquaintances from over the years.

Ken was predeceased by his wife Gwyn and son-in-law Greg Froome. He is survived by his sons Richard(Pam) and Trevor and daughter

Karen, grandchildren Christine(Tyler), Angela, Katie, Kayla(Jesse), Chelsea(Mark) and great grand-daughter Ella.

Special Thank You to Greenwoods for the care and compassion given during Dads’ stay.

Please join us, celebrating his life on Saturday, April 6th at 1:00 pm at All Saints by-the-Sea (110 Park Drive).

Donations may be made to Greenwoods at greenwoodseldercare.org.

the north grenville TIMES

MELISSA OTTENHOF Marketing Consultant

Phone:613 329 0209

Email: melissa@ngtimes.ca

www.ngtimes.ca

Health Unit promotes well water testing

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit celebrated World Water Day on March 22. In Ontario, we are fortunate to have an abundance of drinking water, and it is important to conserve what we have. Not all drinking water sources in Ontario are safe, so it is important to test and install treatment if necessary. Our municipalities take good care of our municipal drinking water systems. If your drinking water comes from a private well, it’s up to you to test and possibly provide a treatment system for the water.

Spring is a great time to have your well water tested for bacteria. Runoff

from heavy rain may affect the safety of your drinking water. Bacteria in your well water may not affect the taste or smell. Testing your well water is the only way to know for sure if your drinking water is safe. The Health Unit recommends that you test your well water at least three times a year for bacteria.

Sampling bottles can be picked up and dropped off from nine different locations where they will be couriered to an Ontario Public Health Laboratory for analysis. Always check the website to see if there are changes to locations. More information can be found on the Drinking Water page of the Health

Unit’s website: Drinking Water - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.

If the testing shows that the well water is contaminated with bacteria, some actions may be required to protect your health. The Health Unit website contains instructions on how to disinfect your well and information on different types of treatment units that can be installed.

In addition to bacteria, some chemical elements that can affect health may also be found in your well water. The most common chemical elements that can affect your health and may be found in Canadian well water are: nitrate and nitrite,

sodium, naturally occurring manganese, arsenic, uranium and lead.

If you are concerned with chemical contamination of your well water, contact a private laboratory for testing. A list of licensed laboratories can be found on the Health Unit website. You can also check out the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines - Canada.ca.

For more information, call us at 1-800-660-5853 or connect with us on Facebook and follow us on X @LGLHealthUnit. We are also now on Instagram @ lglhealthunit.z.

The Food Corner

by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville

I’m pretty sure that all you barbecue fans have cleaned up the auld grill and are itching to make use of it. One of the economical and tasty mainstays of the BBQ season is chicken, with vegetables to match. Along with some fresh bread from Grahame’s, some beer or some cold Chardonnay, you will be welcoming the season in style.

Grilled Chicken and Veggies

Chicken Ingredients:

1 large skinless and boneless chicken breast per person (this recipe makes 4)

¼ cup of apple juice

3 good dashes of Worcestershire sauce

3 tablespoons of grainy mustard , e.g., Mrs. McGarrigle’s’

Balsamic and Cracked Pepper

1 teaspoon of ground black pepper

2 good shakes of Tabasco Sauce

3 tablespoons of minced or crushed garlic

1/8 cup of olive oil

Veggie Ingredients:

1 cup of raw potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes

2 cups of broccoli and cauliflower florets

1 cup red and green peppers, seeded and cut into 1 inch slices

5 portobello mushrooms cut into ½ inch slices

You can also add asparagus spears if you wish, or zucchini, or whatever you wish

½ cup of olive oil, salt and pepper and parsley flakes (you can also use garlic powder)

Preparation:

Cut the chicken lengthwise and leave a hinge on one side

Place the chicken in a large sealable plastic bag and pour in the seasonings

Turn the bag over and over till the chicken is well coated and refrigerate till cold

When ready, turn your barbecue on to medium-high heat

Place the chicken on a cookie sheet in a 350F oven and pre-cook for 20 minutes

Coat your veggies with oil and spices

Place veggies on the BBQ grill in a grill-pan or in aluminum foil

Cook for 20 to 30 minutes while your chicken is precooking

Once your chicken is pre-cooked, place your chicken directly on the grill

Baste from the seasonings in your bag until the chicken is done

The chicken and the veggies should be done at about the same time.

As I’ve said in previous years, it’s important to supervise the cooking of anything on your BBQ to avoid over-cooking and charring. You don’t want hard chicken and limp vegetables. To serve, place the “opened” chicken breast on a plate and smother with your grilled vegetables. Remember to discard any leftover chicken basting to avoid salmonella poisoning. Best from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.

Finding credible nutrition information

by Danielle Labonte, LG&L District Health Unit

March is Nutrition

Mo nth and this year's theme is "We Are Dietitians". Dietitians at the health unit are part of the Healthy Schools team and the Municipal team where the work includes a focus on school-aged children and youth, and the many places you might find them, for example, schools, youth centres, or recreation facilities.

The many ways you can VOLUNTEER in North Grenville

KD Hospital

Andre Rancourt andrerancourt16@gmail.com

SKBP Venturers skbp.venturers@gmail.com

Girl Guides theleangs@gmail.com

ARTS:

NG Art Challenge jayne.couch@yahoo.com

NG Art Guild northgrenvilleartsguild@gmail.com

Beth Donovan Hospice amy.tibben@bethdonovanhospice.ca

Oxford Mills Community Association susannelarner@gmail.com

Kemptville Youth Centre brucewehlau@hotmail.com

Friend of the NG Library blrousseau26@gmail.com

NG Historical Society karenrepta@gmail.com

Rotary corabeking54@gmail.com

Christian Reformed Church sidypma@gmail.com

United Church gowjb5@gmail.com

House of Lazarus cashby@houseoflazarus.com

Youth Alliance: ng.rainbowyouth@gmail.com

Community Senior Centre shalomsmallhomeskemptville.org

The NG Library sjones@ngpl.ca

Friends Of the Forestry Centre ldpaibomesai@gmail.com

Kemptville & District Community Assn. wdembleton@gmail.com

BIA

shelleybmitchell@gmail.com

Pride chair@ngpride.ca

Lions Club mikeamirault@hotmail.com

Knights phil.seymour@bell.net

Leeds Grenville Big Brothers Big Sisters Vanessa.martin@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Canadian Guide Dog Assoc Info@guidedogs.ca Jags kemptvillejags@gmail.com

Pentacostal Church kohls.s.m@gmail.com

United way Ed@uwlg.org

The dietitian supports all elementary and secondary schools in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark counties by providing consultations related to teaching about food and nutrition.

This may include reviewing and recommending curriculum-linked lessons based on the most up-to-date evidence, or providing training sessions to educators, other school staff, and volunteers on teaching about

nutrition, body image and self-esteem, and food literacy. The dietitian is also part of the local committees that provide support to student nutrition programs in schools.

Outside of the school setting, the dietitian partners with municipalities and community organizations to support them with various programs and initiatives related to food and nutrition. This could include providing

COMMUNITY EVENTS

RECURRING EVENTS

Monthly Suppers prepared by Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Church Hall at 503 Clothier St W. Suppers will be held on the last Thursday of the month. Cost $10 per adult, $5 for children under 12 and $25 for families. PROBUS: Fellowship, Fun and inFormed presenters are part of the PROBUS gathering on the third Wednesday of each month at St Paul's Presbyterian Church Hall at 9:30AM. For more information contact at n.g.probus97@gmail.com

Kemptville Legion: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome

BINGO, Kemptville Legion, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month, doors open at noon

NG Duplicate Bridge Club, Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptville, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at 12:15. All Levels of bridge players are welcome. Info call 613-795-7155

KLUB 67 EUCHRE Join us for fun, social euchre games taking place every 2nd and 4th Wednesday monthly at 1pm, September to May. Location: Kemptville Legion, 100 Reuben Cres, Kemptville. Everyone welcome, $5. To play, cash prizes. Friendship Lunch every Friday at St. Johns United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. The meal begins at 11:30 and is free of charge. A good will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome.

Drawing from Life - Portrait and figure drawing clothed models. Fridays, 4pm to 7pm, St. John's United Church 400 Prescott Street. Artists at all levels are welcome. Drop in fee $15. For information contact gowjb5@gmail.com

Spencerville Agricultural Society planning general meetings. If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details. Apr 8, May 13, Jun 10, Jul 8, Aug 12, Oct 21, Nov 11. The Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario

EUCHRE on Tuesday, April 2, 16, 30 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debiar@ymail.com.

BID EUCHRE on Tuesday, April 9, 23 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 1:00 p.m. and play starts at 1:30 p.m. $5 per player. For information, contact debiar@ymail.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction - April 6 at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 319 Prescott Street, Kemptville, two seatings 5:00 and 6:30 PM. Featuring salad, dessert and beverage. Adults: $15.00, Children 4-10: $10:00, Children 3 and under: Free. Take-out also available. For advance tickets please email fundraising@stpaulskemptville.ca or call 613-715-3049. Limited tickets available at the door.

If you have any questions, email or call 613-715-3049.

recommendations for a nutritious canteen menu at a recreation facility, offering train-the-trainer sessions for food literacy programming, or working with groups to develop nutrition-related activities for their sessions.

For more information, visit www.healthunit.org, connect with us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) or call 1-800660-5853.

WIZARD CARD GAME TOURNAMENT on Sunday, April 14 at Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 12:30 and play starts at 1:00 p.m. $5 per player. For information contact debiar@ymail.com. St Michael Spring Craft Show, Saturday April 27. (:30 - 3:30. Admission: $2 or Canned Food Donation EUCHRE FUNDRAISER FOR THE KEMPTVILLE DISTRICT HOSPITAL FOUNDATION in support of the CT Scanner Campaign. On Saturday, June 22 at Pierce's Corners, aka the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m. $10 per player.Pre-register by contacting Debi at 613-868-7600 before 8 p.m. or send an email to debiar@ymail.com.

2024 NORTH AMERICAN WIZARD TOURNAMENT on Sunday, July 14. Check-in starts at 12:30 p.m. At Pierce's Corners, aka the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. $5 per player.Advanced registration is required. For information, contact debiar@ymail.com.

RETIRED CARPENTER

Repairs, Renos.George 613 462 7637

CROSSWORD OASIS PAINTING

SMALL TO MEDIUM JOBS

Framing - Drywall - Laminate Floors - Demolition - Decks - Painting - etc ...

Bill: 613.774.2922

Free

FOR SALE

Mixed hardwood firewood. $120 per face cord. Call or text Jon 613-227-3650.

4X4 round bales of hay, stored inside, suitable for horses. Call or text Jon 613-227-3650.

Spring & Fall pullover coat with hood. Hand made, medium-tall, rose coloured. $100. email nadfudt@gmail. com

Island Countertop with rounded front; grey speckeled. $80. 22x38x1.25". Contact nadfudt@gmail.com

Used kitchen sink; 20x18x7". $40. Contact nadfudt@gmail.com

Swiffer Wet Jet floor cleaner. $20. Contact nadfudt@gmail.com

RV EAZ-Lift hitch kit. 2.25" ball, round spring bars & trailer clips. $340. Contact nadfudt@gmail.com

ACROSS

1. Affirm

5. Dugout shelter

9. Radium discoverer

14. Arid

15. Court order

16. Utilizers

17. Prerogative

19. Piece of paper

20. An alloy of iron

21. Fine woolen yarns

23. Emancipator

25. A strong post

28. Flat hat

29. Abate

32. Each

33. Not him

34. Mouselike animal

35. Teller of untruths

36. Joint of the lower arm

38. Largest continent

39. Stars

41. Connection to a satellite

43. American Medical Association

44. Whelp

45. Leaps

46. Sublet

48. Threshold

50. Soothing ointment

54. Army brass instrument

55. Heavenly

57. Spring month

58. Ends a prayer

59. Greek goddess of discord

60. Destitute

61. Location

62. Rational DOWN

1. Cobras

2. Green, in heraldry

3. A Great Lake

5. Cobbler's tool

6. Imbued

7. Hardship

8. Repeats

9. Standard practice

10. Doorkeeper

11. Marsh plant

12. Angers

13. Estimated (abbrev.)

18. Of a pelvic bone

22. Fledgling businesses

24. Brewhouses

25. Light wood

26. Codeine source

27. Tropical vine

29. Rose dye

30. Flashy accessories

31. Birds' bills

33. Hasten

34. Corroborates

37. Reproductions

42. Squeeze

44. Strictly

45. Old-time helmet

46. Firm

47. Lacquer ingredient

48. Fool

49. Beast

51. Former Italian currency

52. Conceited

53. Otherwise

54. Prohibit

56. East northeast

Upright freezer, 10 c.f. , $150 firm, call Reg 613

gen. By load or bag.Old horseshoes. Call after -

dars from 3ft to 6 ft; tamaracks, spruce, pine and white birch. Call after 6pm 613-

Maple dowels for sale. 24"30" long, 1.25" diameter. Some painted, some raw.ter price for large quantities. Contact Jordan 613-291-

Looking to rent farmlandrounding areas. Call or text

40. Urine

Solutions

4. Merrymakers (Br. sp.)

Sudoku

Notes from above ground: The Resurrection: Where’s the body?

by David Shanahan

“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15. 13-14). This series is looking at the fundamental beliefs of Christianity; the ones that are essential and common to all Christians always. The Resurrection, as Paul stated in his letter to the Corinthians, is unquestionably at the heart of those beliefs and needs to be examined closely in all honesty and fairness. Last week, I talked about the logic which underpins the testimony we have concerning the event. This article asks a simple question: if the whole thing was a hoax, a misunderstanding, or some other mix up, why didn’t

someone simply produce the body and put an end to the whole thing?

When the disciples of Jesus went from being a cowering, frightened and disillusioned group to preaching loudly and boldly in the streets of Jerusalem that Jesus had risen, why did the authorities not just parade the corpse through the streets? The men who had worked to have Jesus executed would not have hesitated to do so if the body was available to them. And as their soldiers had been guarding the tomb, they should have been able to put a stop to the disciples’ claims immediately. But the tomb was empty. The authorities tacitly admitted this when they instructed the tomb guards to say that the disciples themselves had come and stolen the body while the guard slept. Of course, admitting to be

asleep on duty would have been a major, if not capital offense for the guards, but what choice did they have if Jesus had risen?

What of that accusation? Could the disciples have taken the body? The first question would be: why? To draw more attention to themselves and become the target of more executions? As was noted last week, if they had done so, then they knew the Resurrection was a lie. Yet they suffered privations, torture and death for the sake of that lie. That is not nearly as logical as accepting that they believed that the Resurrection was true. They did not take the body from under the noses of the soldiers. They had even stayed away from Calvary, having run away when Jesus was arrested. Even after the women had told them that the tomb was empty, they didn’t believe it, not until Jesus actually appeared to them.

Maybe the women went to the wrong tomb? But, again, the authorities would have corrected that misunderstanding immediately, had they been able to. Perhaps Jesus was not really dead at all? Having gone through the excruciating and tortuous process of crucifixion, been stabbed in the side with a spear, taken down and wrapped in linen with spices

North Grenville Arts Guild President Tammy Keith Steps Aside After Remarkable Achievements

by Jayne Couch Moloney

After a tenure marked by creativity, community engagement, and unwavering dedication, Tammy Keith, President of the North Grenville Arts Guild, has announced her decision to step aside. Keith's remarkable accomplishments during her time at the helm have left an indelible mark on the arts scene in the region, earning her widespread admiration and gratitude.

Under Keith's leadership, the North Grenville Arts Guild has flourished, spearheading numerous initiatives that have enriched the cultural fabric of the community. Among her notable achievements is the iconic Farmer's Market mural, a vibrant depiction of

local life that has become a beloved landmark in the area. This masterpiece not only beautifies the town but also celebrates the spirit of community and cooperation that defines North Grenville.

As North Grenville bids farewell to Tammy Keith's tenure as president, her legacy of cre-

ativity, compassion, and community spirit will endure as a source of inspiration for generations to come. The North Grenville Arts Guild and the community at large extend their heartfelt thanks to Keith for her exemplary leadership and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

poured over him, left in a sealed tomb for a few days, perhaps then he recovered sufficiently to push away a very large stone, pass by the guards and make a complete recovery in order to convince his followers that he had, in fact, risen from the dead. Is any of that rational or remotely feasible?

Christianity is completely based on historical fact, evidence, reality. It invites and encourages intelligent investigation and questioning. It is not based on “blind faith”, or any “leap in the dark”. As a professional historian, I look at evidence, facts and documents, assessing the dependability and veracity of sources before coming to any conclusions. There are clear facts involved here. Jesus was arrested, tried and sentenced to death. This is part of the historical record. He was crucified and died, was buried and a guard placed at his tomb. His followers retreated in confusion and despair to locked rooms in Jerusalem, afraid that they were the next to die. The tomb was found empty and the disciples had to rely on the evidence of women,

another interesting piece of evidence. If they were making the whole story up, why say that it was women who found the empty tomb? Women were not considered reliable witnesses and could not testify in court as a result. A fictional Resurrection would have been more carefully concocted.

One fact remains as true as when Paul stated it so long ago: if Jesus did not rise from the dead, Christianity is a fraud and Christians are the most pitiable of people.

Paul was a violent opponent of Christianity, until he met the risen Jesus. Everything changed for him then.

James was the step-brother of Jesus, he and his siblings considered Jesus to be in -

sane, until the risen Jesus appeared to him. James then became one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem and was eventually executed for his faith. These were not weak-willed men who were easily fooled into believing something. They were men who met the risen Jesus, and after that, there could be no more argument. And two thousand years of Christians have agreed that he is indeed risen. They have encountered him, come to know him, and his spirit lives in them. Quite a claim. If it is not true, you can forget it. If it is true, even if you think it might be true, it is something you have to investigate for yourself. Honesty and eternity demand it.

Which women suffer most from menopause?

There’s a universal fact for women. If they live long enough, their capacity to bring forth children will end, and they will become menopausal. Menopause can be when the thermostat becomes their most prized possession.

But not all women have hot flashes. Some go through this period wondering why they have no symptoms. The best advice for them is, “Enjoy the smooth sailing!” Other women endure needless suffering. There are treatments, and these women should see their doctors.

The medical journal The Lancet has urged women to become educated about hormone replacement therapy

(HRT). Menopause should not be considered a disease. It is a natural process. Be cautious with the commercial interests of pharmaceutical companies’ propaganda. Seek information from a medical specialist.

The authors of The Lancet report stress that they are not opposed to HRT, as it can be effective in treating hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and genital urinary symptoms. Many years ago, HRT was often used by women to control menopausal symptoms. The standard treatment involved the hormones estrogen and progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. But a large and widely publicized study

called the Women’s Health Initiative identified problems with HRT. Doctors and patients concluded that HRT was dangerous, and this misconception lingers today. The study had significant shortcomings however, and subsequent studies have more nuanced conclusions.

For women under 60, or for those less than a decade out of menopause, the benefits of HRT in fighting debilitating symptoms outweighed the risk. There was one other caution. Those using HRT should not have a family history of stroke, breast cancer, or coronary heart disease.

Which women suffer the most from menopause?

It’s those who are affected by severe symptoms. Imagine a stalwart high school principal. She has handled the tough job for years. But,

with the onset of menopause, the slightest provocation has her bursting into tears behind closed doors. For the first time, she feels incapable of the task. If she meets the criteria mentioned above, then she is a textbook case for HRT. Within a week, her problem would be history.

Menopause is not just one event, or one symptom, such as hot flashes. A gradual decrease in the production of estrogen influences organs such as the vagina and urinary bladder. It’s these organs that women are loath to discuss with their family doctor, to say nothing of their partners. It may come as a shock to younger people to know that seniors have sexual relations. But menopause can make vaginal tissues thinner and more easily irritated. Past columns have tried to explain this with a

touch of eloquence, noting that it’s hard for females to sing with a sore throat.

Put plainly, it’s hard for menopausal and post-menopausal women to enjoy sex with an inflamed vagina (atrophic vaginitis). Sometimes neither the woman nor her partner knows what’s causing the severe pain. Unfortunately, many women suffer silently. Those who ask for help will find that there are good remedies. Something as simple as an estrogen cream can resolve an irritated vagina within two weeks. Other consequences of menopause, like the accelerated loss of bone density, may also be treated with HRT.

Sometimes problems are missed because a vaginal examination is not done during a check up. Or patients don’t mention issues to the doctor.

The comedian, Joan Rivers, made a joke about news that having a dog makes you ten years younger. “My first thought was to rescue two more,” she said, before adding, “but I don’t want to go through menopause again.”

Today, women can and should get their symptoms treated.

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