3rd Annual Communities in Bloom Photo Contest
The Municipality of North Grenville is excited to announce the third annual Communities in Bloom Photo Contest, inviting residents to capture the natural beauty, creativity, and green spaces that make our community shine.
This year’s contest theme, “Edible Gardens,” celebrates how residents grow food, share harvests, and embrace sustainable living. Whether it’s a backyard vegetable patch, a balcony herb garden, or a thriving community plot, we want to see how North Grenville grows!
“Communities in Bloom celebrates community engagement, environmental stewardship, and collaboration. It unites people and organizations across the nation to create vibrant, sustainable communities. North Grenville embodies this vision, and we are eager to share our love of home, beauty, and green spaces” said Mayor Nancy Peckford. “Everyone is invited to support North Grenville’s submission to CiB by submitting photos for our website and profile book and touring our landscapes and green spaces”.
The photo contest runs
now through August 15, 2025. Winning images will be featured on municipal channels and included in North Grenville’s official Communities in Bloom Profile Book submitted to provincial judges.
Photo Categories:
• Gardens & Floral Displays
• Local Heritage
• Landscapes
• Urban Forestry & Trails
• Edible Gardens
Prizes: Each category will award a $50 prize to the winner and $25 to the runner-up. A special “People’s Choice” award, selected
via online voting on the North Grenville Communities in Bloom Facebook page, will also receive a $50 prize. Submit your photos at: www.northgrenville.ca/ ngib.
More Ways to Get Involved:
Provincial Judges Visit: August 13 and 14, 2025
Fruit Tree Pollination
Map : Register your fruit trees and discover pollination partners to help promote biodiversity and food resilience.
Garden Spotlight Program: Nominate a deserving garden for a feature on our social media.
Bloom Bingo: Complete fun, eco-friendly challenges for a chance to win gardening-themed prizes! Bingo cards are available at the Municipal Centre, North Grenville Public Library, and online. Submit by September 22, 2025.
Library Gardening Kits & Seeds: Borrow reusable kits with tools and seeds from the North Grenville Public Library - perfect for firsttime gardeners.
Business Bloom Awards:
From July to early August, local storefronts will be recognized in categories like:
- Small-Scale Charm (window boxes, small planters, hanging baskets)
- Medium Impact (midsized planters or grouped containers)
Who knows where the Times goes?
Nina Tachuk visited Calgary and took in the famous Stampede. She also brought along a copy of the NG Times to enjoy in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Nina sent us her photo and stated: “The Calgary stampede… The Greatest outdoor show in the world… The North Grenville Times… The greatest local paper in the world”.
To celebrate our twenty years of news in North Grenville, the Times is inviting readers to submit photos of them reading the paper wherever in the world they may be. You may be on vacation in Europe, Or you may be visiting friends somewhere in Canada. Who knows where the Times goes? At the end of the summer we’ll have a draw to find the winning pic, and present a gift coupon from $100 for a local NG business. It’s a fun way to mark a big anniversary for us here at the Times: one we want to share with our friends and neighbours in our community.
Lions Club lottery bigger than ever
The Kemptville Lions Club are excited to announce that after the success of their first years’ fundraiser, they are once again holding their “Trip of the Month Club” draws for 2025/2026!
“We received an amazing response from our community last year and we hope that you will once again support our fundraiser this year. With your support, we were able to donate much needed funds to ten local charitable organizations.”
This lottery consists of 12 prizes, of which one is a cash prize, two are travel vouchers, and nine are suggested vacation destinations arranged by Gravitate Travel, here in Kemptville. All trips are for two and may be exchanged, for full value, for a destination of your choice at time of booking. Each ticket remains in the drum for the full 12 draws, so, even if you win, you can still win again. You have one year to plan for and enjoy a vacation. Tickets are $150.00. Cash only please.
This year, due to the increase of travel costs and the extra funds needed in the community, the Lions have increased the number of tickets for sale to 350 from last year's 300. This allows for an increase both the value of the prizes, and to donate more funds to ten local charitable organizations. The ticket price will remain at $150. The first draw will be held on the second Monday of September, 2025 and the final draw will be on the second Monday of August, 2026. Sample trips are:
- October 2025 draw is a 6-night stay at Hotel Paris Opera by Melia, including flights from Ottawa-MontrealParis, return same route-European Plan-Standard Twin Room for two people. Package value $4,176.
- May 2026 prize is a 7-night stay at Occidental Tamarindo, Costa Rica for two people by Air Canada Vacations. Includes flights from Ottawa – Liberia Package Value $4,058.
All proceeds are distributed as required by government regulation to qualified charitable organizations that depend on the Lions Club’s support to provide services to the less fortunate in our community. If you'd like to purchase a ticket, please message via the Kemptville Lions Club Facebook page and a member will assist you. Your support is very much appreciated.
Santa is coming to the Kemptville ReStore on Saturday!
On Saturday, July 19, from 11-2, the Kemptville ReStore presents Santa’s Summer Vacation and ELF PARTY! Anyone who wears something Christmas-inspired gets 30% off Storewide (ALL DAY). Come visit our beachy summertime Santa and take pics, play some reindeer games (everyone welcome), and snack on some Christmas cookies and refreshments. For Adults, there’s also a DIY Ornament Workshop. Bring your own knickknacks to turn into ornaments, or use ours!
“The elves have a ton of overstock from last Christmas, so they’re selling it all off to make room for Christmas 2025. AND, since elves don’t use money, all funds raised go to Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes in our community”, says Manager Vicki Simzer.
“It wasn’t hard convincing Santa to come to Kemptville for his summer vacation. He’d already heard that we’re the most active community in Canada and he’s an active guy. The elves, however, had their hearts set on Miami, but they go where Santa goes. We’ll just have to wow them with our Kemptvillian charms”, says Elizabeth MacKenzie,
event coordinator.
“We really wanted to have a FREE kid-friendly event that appealed to adults as well as kids. Between the savings and Santa, we feel we’ve done that. My only concern is the elves – they are known for being good hearted, but also VERY mischievous. We’re getting extra insurance”, says Vicki.
It’s all happening at the Kemptville ReStore, Kemptville Mall, 2600 County Road 43.
ReStores throughout the world exist to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity, a registered charity.
Kemptville’s ReStore: Great Cause. Great Deals. No Tax – EVER!
The Word
by David Shanahan
Some things may be worth repeating. I first wrote this ten years ago, but that’s cool (see below). Whenever I sit down to write, I am very aware that not everything I write means the same thing to all readers. It’s not just that some people think of me as opinionated, while others take a more positive attitude and believe I am simply “telling it like it is” (that would be me and my immediate family). Just using that phrase: “telling it like it is”, meets with varying critical responses. Does using the phrase make sense, or does it come across as outdated and unbelievably silly. It’s like when I accuse someone of being pedantic: does using that word make me sound pedantic?!
But all of this has made me think about how language is used, interpreted, and even how much it can date the user. Every generation has its favourite sayings and words that make the users feel hip, cool, trendy, with it, groovy, to use just a few really fine words. For whatever reason, perhaps to do with the living nature of language and popular culture, these words can go out of fashion almost as quickly as they came in. These days, for example, the only thing that is truly groovy is corduroy, and even that is now uncool.
Sometimes, it is hard to understand how a particular word or phrase made it into common parlance at all. Why is it that the word “sketchy” has come to mean dubious, unreliable, or deserving of suspicion?
Why is shiny jewelry now called “bling”? Growing up, “zip” meant something that fastened clothes; but it also means “nothing”, “zero”, or, to use another term “nada”.
This brings us on to words borrowed from other languages. “Nada”is a Spanish word that, naturally, means “nothing” (though, as a verb, it also means to swim). We used to use the word “galore”a lot: it means “a lot” in Gaelic (go leor). To learn about things, we can go to a guru, or a pundit, both Indian words. Tariffs and assassins are two Arabic words with which we are very familiar. Unfortunately, so is the Chinese word, tofu....
Some of these words sound so modern, but actually can be dated much further back in time than you’d imagine. The Big Lebowski may be cool and call himself “The Dude”, and that’s only right, but the word “dude” dates back about 150 years. Long before Michael Jackson, saying that someone was bad could mean that he was good, just as saying someone was wicked meant he was cool, or awesome. In fact, “bad” meant “good” as far back as the end of the nineteenth century.
As for “awesome”, it gets me rather irritated to have someone cry: “awesome!”, just because I ordered something off a menu in a restaurant! It is almost as bad (and I mean bad!) as having my order described as “perfect”. “I’d like a burger and fries, please”. Response: “Awesome! Perfect!”. Arrgggghh! Sorry, I am being pedantic again.. Sorry, I didn’t mean to say pedantic, I meant... oh never
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
mind.
The way the English language is used must cause untold confusion to those learning or hearing it (untold, because no-one has the words to describe it). To be ripped means to be muscled, toned, in very good physical shape. This is good. To be ripped off, however, is not good at all. Words can be dangerous, too. A hood is a crook, dangerous. A hood is also a head covering on a hoody: therefore the wearer of a hoody might be dangerous too. Right? No? Maybe?
We should be very thankful that most slang words have a very short shelf life (shelf life?), and soon pass from memory. Others, I think, should have survived longer than they did. I have a personal attachment to such words from the 60's and 70's (that’s 1960's, I should note). I think that something really unusual, an amazing fact or event, is perfectly described by the phrase far out. That psychedelic poster is just far out, man! In fact, some things are so far out, they’re out of sight. Doesn’t that describe things perfectly?
Using “bread” for money makes so much sense too: we all have to earn our daily bread, right? And when something really appeals to you, when you feel really good about a place, a person, or a piece of music, then you really do get good vibes (that’s short for vibrations, man!). Has there ever been a line that better describes the first stirrings of passion than: “I’m picking up good vibrations: she’s giving me excitations”? There’s no need to argue about this, I don’t need the hassle. It’s just too much. There’s another great phrase: it is open ended, indicating that something is too much...everything.
These words had imagination behind them, unlike so many Internet-inspired terms today. In fact, most of the newer words aren’t words at all, they are acronyms, designed to allow people to avoid typing out long words and phrases like “laugh out loud”. That’s just lazy, not creative. Far better to remember when words tried to describe, in new ways, something that almost defied description. That’s what we need: creativity in words, imagination in the use of language. Right on. Can you dig it?
port biodiversity.
Summer Clean-Up Week: August 4 to 8, 2025 – join us in tidying our green spaces ahead of the judges’ visit. Invasive Species Education Campaign: Weekly social media tips to help spot and manage invasive species like garlic mustard and dogstrangling vine.
CLASSIFIEDS
classifieds@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735
FOR SALE
Wall desk white in colour brand new hardly used, $150.00. call 613-215-0665.
Firewood for camping @ $60.00/cord. Call Reg 613 258 7606
We sell and install cedar trees for hedges and we are also looking to harvest cedar trees
VOLUNTEERING IS THE
for cedar hedges from land owner(s). Joanne (613)799-0958
TO RENT
Notice
St. James Anglican Cemetery
St. James Memorial Anglican Church has submitted by-laws to the Registrar of the Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Services Act, 2002. Any interested parties may obtain additional information by contacting the:
Church Treasurer at: treasurer@stjameskemptville.com or Cemetery at: cemetery@stjameskemptville.com By-laws or amendments may be reviewed or copied at: stjameskemptville.com/home-v2.0/our-cemetery/Cemetery-Bylaws
CLIENT EXPERIENCE TEAM MEMBER
Location: Kemptville, Ontario
Full Time, Permanent
Wage: $18-20 /Hour
Start Date: August 18th, 2025
Position Purpose
We are a small business looking for a highly motivated individual to join our client-facing customer service team. The main focus of this role will be to assist our clients from the first time they make contact with us, continuing throughout their entire experience using our services. We are looking for someone who is well-equipped to work in a team environment and candidates will be encouraged to take initiative, make suggestions and accept feedback. We promote a positive and inclusive culture at our business, so adding someone to our team requires that candidates align with our core values.
eartbeat OF OUR COMMUNITY
These by-laws are subject to the approval of the Registrar, Funeral, Burial, and Cremation Services Act, 2002. Telephone: Bereavement Authority of Ontario 647-483-2645 or 1-844-493-6356
Notice of the Passing of an Interim Control By-law the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville
Take notice that the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of North Grenville passed By-Law 35-25, being an interim control by-law, on the 24th of June 2025, under Section 38 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended.
And take notice that an Interim Control By-law is a planning instrument that can be unilaterally invoked by municipalities to temporarily suspend existing zoning rights and restrict land uses while the municipality conducts a land use planning study or review. An Interim Control Bylaw lasts for one (1) year, but it can be extended for one (1) additional year. There is no right of appeal for a landowner during the first year, but an Interim Control By-law that is extended for a second year can be appealed. Once an Interim Control By-law ceases to be in effect, a municipality cannot impost another Interim Control By-law on the same lands until 3 years later (known as the ‘3 year cooling off period’).
And take notice that any person or agency may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal by filing a notice of appeal with the Clerk of the Municipality of North Grenville either via the Ontario Land Tribunal e-file service (first-time users will need to register for a My Ontario Account) at https://oltgov.on.ca/e-file-service by selecting Municipality of North Grenville as the Approval Authority or by mail to P.O. Box 130, 285 County Road 44, Kemptville, Ontario, K0G 1J0 no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 6th day of August 2025. The filing of an appeal after 5:00 p.m., in person or electronically, will be deemed to have been received the next business day.
The appeal fee of $1,100 can be paid online through efile or by certified cheque/money order to the Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario. If you wish to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) or request a fee reduction for an appeal, forms are available from the OLT website at www.olt.gov.on.ca. If the e-file portal is down, you can submit your appeal to clerk@ northgrenville.on.ca.
The complete by-law and map are available on the Municipality of North Grenville’s Website: www.northgrenville.on.ca
Purpose and Effect:
The purpose and effect of by-law 35-25 is to allow staff to review the necessary research and consultation with respect to evaluating existing servicing policies within the Urban Service Area and prepare a report recommending policy changes to the Official Plan and relevant Municipal By-laws.
The Interim Control By-law effects all lands within the Urban Service Area, as defined by Schedule B of the Municipal Official Plan. The following exemptions apply:
• all properties identified on Schedule A of the Interim Control By-law.
• applications for permits for decks, pools, additions that do not require additional sanitary capacity and one additional residential unit per property.
• lands exempted through the minor variance process as described in the Interim Control By-law.
Lands Affected by By-law:
The lands affected by this by-law are shown on Schedule A of By-law 35-25.
The Interim Control By-law will remain in effect until June 30, 2026, unless otherwise extended in accordance with Section 38(2) of the Planning Act or repealed by Council at an earlier date.
For more information please contact: Municipality of North Grenville Planning Department, PO Box 130, 285 County Road 44, Kemptville, ON or 613-258-9569 extension 116 or planning@ northgrenville.on.ca.
STAY ENGAGED, STAY INFORMED, and STAY CONNECTED with your community Subscribe to NGT's Free Newsletter! ngtimes.ca/ newsletter/
LAND FOR RENT to farm. High producing for soy bean and corn. Reasonable to the right farmer. Call 613.258.3561 Find closure information, newsletter, schedule, photos, live camera, and more on the County Road 43
Dated at the Municipality of North Grenville this 17th day of July 2025
Some of the general duties will include joining a team that greets clients when they arrive, assist with scheduling appointments, accept payments, answer the phone, and generally answer questions related to our services.
Qualifications/Skills
• Initiative
• Ability to problem solve daily operational issues
• Experience in a public-facing customer service organization
• Strong communication skills within a team environment
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to troubleshoot technical issues
• Strong MS Office skills
• Knowledge of Google Workspace
• Experience with scheduling considered an asset
• References will be requested
Scheduled Hours Per Week: 30 (+ or -)
Scheduled Shifts: Monday to Friday, Evening set shifts until roughly 8pm
To Apply: Please send a cover letter and a copy of your resume to this email address: info@kemptvillephysio.com. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Roadwork is a temporary step toward lasting improvements. Your support today helps create a stronger, more connected community for the future. Visit: www.northgrenville.ca/discover43
5th Merrickville
Festival of the Arts
by Nick Previsich
The Merrickville Organization for Culture & the Arts is pleased to partner with the Merrickville Arts Guild and Theatre Night in Merrickville to host the 5th Merrickville Festival of the Arts in the Blockhouse Park. This annual celebration of the arts has been popular with residents of Merrickville-Wolford, residents from nearby communities, and with tourists visiting the Rideau Canal - a UNESCO Heritage Site.
This year, we are pleased to host over 30 talented artists, and have invited the participation of artists from nearby communities such as North Grenville. We are collaborating with four home/business owners who have generously donated the use of their porches to host musical performances. Theatre Night in Merrickville will be performing the delightful play, “Save Me a Place at Forest Lawn” by Lorees Yerby in the Lions Pavilion. The Merrickville Arts Guild is hosting a “Mini MAGs” tent dedicated to engaging young children (4-6 yrs; 5-10 yrs) in wonderful stories and art.
We are especially pleased to offer our community a free evening concert in The Pews on July 25 at 7:00 p.m.. The dynamic indie folk duo “Arbour Season”, a very talented and musical wife and husband team, will provide a very entertaining evening - don’t miss it !
I would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the Village of Merrickville-Wolford Community Grant Program and by our Corporate Sponsors who have made this Festival possible - many thanks !
For additional information, or questions related to the Merrickville Festival of the Arts, please contact Nick Previsich at nprevisich@bell.net.
Roland Graham brings back Bach for a classical afternoon in Kemptville
by Lisa Poushinsky
Coming this Saturday to the North Grenville Public Library terrace, it’s classical pianist and conductor Roland Graham. Performing Bach’s Italian Concerto (BWV 971), the Overture in the French Manner (BWV 831), and Mozart’s final piano sonata, No. 18 in D major (K. 576), Roland enjoys the symphonic character of the works and is ready to express the sound and spirit of an orchestra in his solo performance. Don’t miss your chance to hear our new Street Piano put through its paces and enjoy some of Western music’s most wonderful works!
Hailed as “an excellent conductor and inspiring educator,” Roland Graham is an accomplished pianist, composer, and impresario. He is the founding Artistic Director of the Doors Open for Music at Southminster concert series, the Master Piano Recital Series, and Ottawa Choral Workshops, where Roland helps amateur singers hone their craft by combining in-depth musical exploration with the live performance of classical choral masterworks. In 2025, he will lead his second international singing retreat in Nicaragua: an initiative inspired by a desire to bridge cultures through the universal language of music. To learn more about Roland and his activities, visit OttawaChoralWorkshops. com.
What? The Kemptville Street Piano Concert Series presents Who? Roland Graham
When? Saturday July 19, 1pm, rain or shine Where? North Grenville Public Library terrace (indoors in case of inclement weather). The library is wheelchair accessible, with air-conditioned bathrooms and free parking. Need special accommodations to enjoy the show? Contact Lisa Poushinsky at kemptville.street.piano@gmail. com. Dogs on leashes welcome!
How much? Free! Want to support the music? The Kemptville Street Piano is a non-profit concert series that relies on grants, and we will gladly accept donations and discuss sponsorship opportunities (contact us at kemptville.street.piano@ gmail.com).
What is a Street Piano? It’s a piano placed in a pub-
lic area that encourages passersby to stop and play. Street Pianos draw pedestrians, turning any location into a concert venue/cultural hub. By giving residents an instrument to play together, this project encourages locals to share their knowledge, initiate their own ‘play’, and create relationships, setting a precedent for positive experiences in Kemptville’s public spaces and inviting foot traffic to downtown businesses. Learn more about street pianos at http://www.streetpianos. com/.
The series is graciously funded by the Municipality of North Grenville and the Government of Canada. Check the Kemptville Street Piano Facebook page for regular updates on all things Street Piano, including concert details and access to the Street Piano calendar. www.facebook.com/KemptvilleStreetPiano @ExploreNorthGrenville #LoveNG #RediscoverOntario #Kemptville #NorthGrenville @oldtownkemptville
Kemptville TR Leger Apprenticeship Centre
We’re excited to share what’s ahead at the TR Leger Apprenticeship Training Centre for the 2025-2026 school year! After a truly rewarding season of growth, collaboration, and hands-on learning, we’re looking forward to building on that momentum with a fresh suite of programs designed to support employers, employees, students, and communities across our region.
Reflecting on 2024-2025, here are some of the successes:
- Two Level 2 Agricultural and Heavy Equipment Technician programs saw strong completion and success rates.
- Two OYAP Level 1 cohorts provided high school students with direct access to apprenticeship pathways—with amazing results.
- Our Pre-Apprenticeship Program created new opportunities through Level 1 technical training and paid work placements.
- The Gateway to the Trades two-week program helped individuals explore and upskill in the motive power sector.
- Our Hybrid Level 1 option allowed apprentices to stay employed while completing in-class training one day per week.
- We welcomed more than 450 students in Grades 7–12 for hands-on workshops that sparked early interest in the skilled trades.
Looking Ahead to 2025-2026:
We’ve developed another exciting lineup of programs to help organizations, apprentices, and students across Ontario develop job-ready skills in the motive power trades.
Please refer to the attached poster for complete program dates and details. Here's a quick overview:
- Level 1 Commercial Vehicle & Equipment Apprenticeship Training – September 5, 2025 to March 13, 2026 (earn while you learn hybrid) and January 19, 2026 to March 13, 2026
- Level 2 Agricultural & Heavy Equipment Apprenticeship Training – September 8, 2025 to October 31, 2025
- Gateway to the Trades: Two-Week Intro to the Motive Power Trades – multiple dates
- One-Day Workshops and SHSM Certifications – available December 2025 to June 2026
- OYAP Level 1 Commercial Vehicle & Equipment Apprenticeship Training – March 23, 2026 to May 29, 2026
These programs are designed to be accessible, engaging, and aligned with the needs of today’s workforce: equipping your staff, students, and community members with industryrelevant training and credentials.
The poster has a QR code that leads to our Apprenticeship page on the TR Leger Website. The registration for Hybrid Level 1 and the Gateway to the Trades 2-week programs are now open on our website.
The Kemptville budget crisis of 1996, part 2
A sign of the times in 1996
by David Shanahan
When more than 600 local residents gathered at the Fire Hall in Kemptville on March 18, 1996, there was a lot of anger in the room. Being informed by Council that their property taxes would rise by more than 80% had caused genuine fear and confusion, and people wanted answers from their elected representatives. But what they heard that night did not satisfy them in the least.
Already, a newly-formed citizens’ group had sent a petition to the Ontario Municipal Board [OMB] asking for a formal investigation in to the Town’s finances and accounting practices. The petition sought to prevent Council from imposing any taxes, service charges, or borrowing money. It asked the OMB “to determine responsibility for a pattern of accounting irregularities which has resulted in the virtual bankruptcy” of the Town of Kemptville. The group’s spokesperson, Bruce Cathcart, put a se-
ries of prepared questions to Mayor Etmanskie, members of Council, and the Town’s Treasurer, Russell Trivett. Some of these involved the collection of unpaid taxes and the various infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Town.
Some members of the public rejected the Group’s attacks on council, pointing out that the problems had been caused under a previous council and the current one was not responsible.
Three of the current council had not been part of the previous one, and some of the previous councillors gave their opinion on what had happened. Ralph Raina pointed out that he had tried to raise issues about the water treatment plant operating costs, but was then fired from the Finance Committee by Mayor Jean Somerville. He and former Councillor Wayne Morris agreed that they had not been informed of the auditor’s concerns while they were on council, and that Mayor Somerville had ignored their concerns.
Summer gatherings in small groups is a lot of fun. Picture a long table (or two tables end to end); a plastic table cloth; comfortable chairs; several pitchers of white and red wine or maybe some Sangria and a companiable bunch o’ people ready to relax, share stories and laugh a lot. One great way to reduce the labour for such great events is to have folks cook their own food. Enter Cornmeal Tortillas, on which you can base one heck of a taco party. These tortillas are simple to make, very tasty and hold the contents of tacos very well. This recipe makes about two dozen so go to your multiplication table if you have a larger group of folks. Just remember that these puppies are so good, you may need more than you expect, particularly the young ‘uns... Cornmeal Tortillas
Ingredients:
• 3 cups of flour
• 1 ½ cup of cornmeal
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• 1 tablespoon of cayenne or chili pepper
• 2 cups of boiling water
• 1 tablespoon of crushed garlic
• Some Canola for frying (don’t overdo it); this is just frying, not deep frying
Preparation:
• In a large bowl, combine all of your dry ingredients
• Pour the boiling water over the mixture and add the crushed garlic as well
• Make into a ball and then divide into 24 pieces
• Roll out each piece on a floured surface with a rolling pin, also floured
Neither he nor Ralph Raina could understand why there were no red flags raised in a report at the end of 1994, but one in May of 1995 showed that there was a huge sum of half a million dollars owing to the Town and no effort seemed to have been made to collect it. As regards the increase in water charges of 100%, Reeve Ken Finnerty pointed out that this was not a rate increase, per se, but to cover basic operating costs of the water treatment plant, which ran to $350,000 per year. There had been a major error in calculating what the cost of the facility would be when it was first planned.
The March 18 meeting failed to reassure anyone, and a second meeting took place on May 26 to officially inaugurate the Kemptville Taxpayers Coalition, which aimed to produce proposals on settling the financial issues in the Town, have them put before the public, and later presented to Council. About 250 residents attended the meeting and co-chairs of the Coalition were appointed: Bill Gooch, Gerry Templeton and Peter Tsarouhas. But things were happening on Council also. Deputy Reeve Higgins held a meeting to provide further information to the Coalition, but no-one turned up to it.
On March 25, Council announced a revamped budget with a tax increase of 43%, rather than the original 80.8%. This had been achieved through cuts to municipal departments amounting to $154,000. The Taxpayers Coalition had been
informed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs that their petition for an inquiry had been rejected. The Committee then presented Council with eleven proposals to deal with the financial mess, most of which, according to Mayor Etmanskie, were being considered. However the Coalition’s proposal to eliminate the positions of Fire Chief and Police Chief were rejected, as having unqualified staff carrying out the responsibilities of those jobs could incur serious liability concerns. In addition, Town staff would not have the extra time to undertake the duties of those two positions. Council’s honorarium was cut by 15%, and the Mayor gave up his $1,800 a year car allowance, one of the proposals put to them by the Coalition. The most radical of the Coalition’s proposals was that the Town of Kemptville ask to be put under “voluntary supervision” so that financial arrangements could be introduced and monitored in the coming year. This was rejected by Council, as any such supervision would be by the province, and the Ministry had already made clear their unwillingness to get involved. The Coalition would take this idea of supervision into their own hands, making it clear that they would take over decision-making in the Town of Kemptville from the elected Council. Things were getting serious.
Next: A responsible direction, or an attempted coup?
• Use a small bowl, the lid off a coffee can or something about 6” round to cut out the tortillas
• They should be very thin but also manageable
• Stack the tortillas between sheets of waxed paper cut to size and refrigerate
For your tacos, you will want to set up one or two large electric fry pans (we use our big rectangular breakfast pan) on the table and have people fry up their own tortilla shells. They will wish to place their shell on the hot oil and cook to their own desire of “doneness” (golden is lovely). Of course, you will also have set out your taco fillings, a choice of pre-cooked ground beef, pork or turkey or chicken breasts sliced and diced; you can provide some refried beans, salsa, grated Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream or natural yoghurt, shredded lettuce, sliced fresh tomatoes, guacamole and pretty well anything else that suits your fancy. Vegetarians are invited to the party as well, since they don’t need to use any meat, just more of the other stuff (some fried tofu is also very nice). If you want to involve the group, you can have them do some of the pre-work as well, such as grating the cheese, shredding the lettuce, slicing the tomatoes, etc. On the subject of tomatoes, you may wish to try the minis, simply sliced in half and drenched with some Balsamic vinegar.
Have a great party! Best from pcormier@ranaprocess.com.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
RECURRING EVENTS
Knights of Columbus Monthly Supper at Holy Cross Church Hall 503 Clothier Street West. Suppers are held at 5:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, September to November and January to May. Cost $10 per person, $5 for a child under 12 and $25 for a family.
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, Bingos run from the beginning of September until the end of June on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays.
LEGION EUCHRE will be held at 100 Reuben St., the 3rd Saturday of each month. Registration starts at 12:30, with Euchre starting at 1:00. Cost is $5 to play - cash prizes. 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
Friendship Lunches are offered to everyone every Friday. Please join us in our lower hall by 11:30 for a free meal, companionship and fellowship at St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. and begin at 11:30. There is no charge. A free will offering is appreciated. Everyone is welcome.
Friendship Café is open to the community Tuesday's from 10 to noon. All are welcome to stop by, enjoy a hot beverage, a sweet treat and some friendly conversation all at no cost. At St. John's United Church hall at 400 Prescott St. Tuesday Community Hub hosted by the House of Lazarus All are welcome to drop in. Advocacy, “make a meal, take a meal” cooking opportunities, community services assistance are just a few of the weekly programs. Stop by and visit or contact House of Lazarus directly at 613-989-3830 for more details. “Building Community, Sharing Hope”. Upstairs at St. John's United Church at 400 Prescott St. Modern Square Dancing in Kemptville with the Grenville Gremlins Square Dance Club. Monday Evenings 7:30 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Debbie at 613-795-3032 or Google "Kemptville Square Dancing" Saturday Art Social every Saturday morning at the NG Public Library! 10 am - 11:30 am at the NG Public Library. Free with basic materials provided BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, July 29, August 12 and 26. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., play starts at 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road on Tuesday, July 22, August 5 and 19. Registration starts at 6:30 p.m., play starts at 7:00 p.m. Contact Debi at debiar@ymail.com
North Grenville Men’s Shed
A men’s shed provides a safe and friendly environment for men to socialize and/or do projects.
Contact: Peter Ivay 343 598-1174 or website ngmensshed.com for scheduled meetings on the calendar and additional information. Malala Women’s Choir
Invites you to explore uplifting music for treble voices. Rehearsals: Wednesday evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pm, March 5– May 28, 2025. At St. Andrew’s Knox Presbyterian Church, 23 Bennett St., Spencerville. To register: contact Sheila at 613-658-5290 or sheilafawcett92@gmail.com No previous choral experience required.
Membership fee: $35
Kemptville Horticultural Society - meetings are held monthly, except July, August & December. The are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Kemptville Pentecostal Church.
South Branch Serenade FREE Event Every Thursday Night Throughout July and August. 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Rotary Park in Downtown Kemptville
Kemptville Street Piano Join us on Saturdays for FREE musical adventures. 1:00 pm North Grenville Public Library terrace
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 9
Ferguson Forest for Beginners Time: 10:00 am
Not familiar with Ferguson Forest? Prefer not to walk alone? Come join one of our volunteers for a guided walk.
FREE MAPS! Meet in parking lot near dog park.
August 10
WIZARD CARD TOURNAMENT Time: 12:30 pm
Registration starts at 12:30 and play starts at 1:00 p.m. $5 per player. For information contact debiar@ymail.com.
Pierce's Corners, also known as the Marlborough Community Centre, 3048 Pierce Road. August 11
Spencerville Agricultural Society Time: 7:00 pm
August Meeting If you are interested in joining our committee, please email info@spencervillefair.ca to receive all of the meeting details.
Phone: 613-658-3333| www.spencervillefair.ca Cost: Free Drummond Building 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville Ontario August 13
Craft Night Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
FREE for all kids - Preschool to Grade 6!
Join us for our 3rd Annual Spencerville Fair Craft Night! A totally FREE evening of handson fun for kids in Preschool through Grade 6. All supplies are provided, and the only thing you need to bring is your kid’s creativity!Drummond Building, 22 Ryan Street, Spencerville
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Thick slice
5. Technology
9. Moving vehicles
13. Isinglass
14. Another time 16. False god
17. Paddles
18. ___ bear 19. Ocean motion
20. Southern breakfast dish
22. Committed 24. Openings
26. Type of body fluid 27. Tales 30. Country 33. Handle
35. Enlist
37. Sash
38. Creek
41. Avenue (abbrev.)
42. Beg
45. Wolfram
48. Property
51. Slight advantage
52. Vogue
54. Dam
55. Estranged
59. Malicious
62. King of the jungle
63. Wanderer
65. Decorated, as a cake
66. Await judgment
67. Grin
68. What we're called
69. Figure out (British)
70. Hemorrhaged
71. Secluded valley
DOWN
1. Dirty air
2. Teller of untruths
3. Jaundices
4. Illegitimate child
5. Faucet
Solutions to last week’s Sudoku
6. Mild expletive
7. Walking sticks
8. Concealed
9. Folic acid, for example
10. Mine entrance
11. Connecting point
12. Sleigh
15. Nigerian money
21. Large and hurried swallow
23. Adorable
25. Belgrade native
27. Store
28. A piece of flat furniture
29. Mister
31. Eloquent
32. Unique
34. Cooking container
36. Extend credit
39. Not in 40. Comprehend
43. Waits upon 44. Mend
46. G G G
47. Gleaming
49. Rips
50. Bury
53. Satan
55. European mountains
56. In place of 57. Charged particles
58. Expunge
60. Greek district
61. Biblical garden
64. Bloodshot
Solution to last week’s Crossword
Exciting Times
What an exciting time of the year it is turning out to be, bird-wise, as some of our rarer visitors sneak into the garden to enlighten our days. Over the past week, we have had visits from Baltimore Orioles and, the latest, that of a visit from a pair of Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. How exciting is that, although it also involves a bit of my patience too, as I await the golden opportunity to get a
picture of them either singly or as a pair! Obviously, the more photogenic one of the pair is the male bird and that is the one that has held my attention in this article. Nevertheless, there are still quite a few other birds who still hold my attention too, such as the “game” and ever energetic little House Wren, who sings his little heart out from morning to dusk, trying to lure a female into
his territory.
I have had the pleasure of getting up on these lovely sunny mornings and, still clad in my PJ’s, have spent at least an hour out on my back deck watching and listening to him as he serenades the world and, hopefully, a new partner. He sits atop one of our highest pine trees singing away before descending to one of my high nesting boxes; and then he gathers some nesting material from the ground and flies into the nesting box in which he obviously lays it down. He then pops out and quickly sits on the top of the box and sings out before repeating the gathering exercise. At one stage, I did see two birds going in through the entrance hole, so she was, at least, having a look to make sure that he was doing it right! Hopefully, he has
been and she will accept his pleas to be his mate. He was singing this morning at full volume and, no doubt, will continue throughout the day. Good luck to him!
Meanwhile, he is not the only one to attract my attention, as the mated Bluebirds continue coming to and fro from their chosen nesting box, nearer to the house and the deck, where I can stand quite close to them and get some close-ups. Wonderful! I hope that you too are managing to get good views of your own birds and that you are enjoying what they offer to us, as we share a little bit of their lives. Stay safe and well.
Cheers, John Baldwin
Red Breasted Grosbeak