The Voice of North Grenville
The Voice of North Grenville
Reaching by direct mail 8,900 homes and businesses in North Grenville www.ngtimes.ca
Septmber 17, 2026
Vol. 14 No. 36
Three years on and the work continues
Cathy Ashby, Cora Beking. Brian McKee, Maggie Boyer and Diane Lapierre by Marguerite Boyer The North Grenville Community Forum is still thriving and continues to bring people and organisations together to help build an inclusive and healthy community, with our next meeting scheduled for September 23. It is a good time to recognize the small group of people who started this journey three years ago. What began with five community minded individuals has grown into something that reaches far beyond those who first sat around the table. The original group consisted of Brian McKee, Campus Board Chair, Marguerite Boyer, co-owner of the North Grenville Times, Cathy Ashby, House of
September 17, 2026
many community organizations and individuals who have taken part. Their willingness to come together, share ideas and participate is what has allowed the Forum to continue and have an impact within the community. Over the past three years, the Forum has provided a place for community groups to network, communicate and learn more about what others are doing. But of all the things that have come out of those conversations, perhaps one of the achievements that stands out the most is the Community Meals program. Every Tuesday evening, community members can come together to share a free meal, ensuring those who may be in need can have one square
Lazarus; and Cora Beking, Kemptville Rotary, Shalom Small Homes and also a board member of Kemptville Campus, later joined by Diane Lapierre, board member of Seniors Community Services. A thank you goes out to Jeff Gander and Sara Jane Manning, who helped us along the way. We were also fortunate to have support from the Mayor, Council and municipal staff of North Grenville who participated in our meetings providing valuable information on governmental initiatives. Kemptville Campus and the First Christian Reformed Church have provided free meeting space, for which we are grateful. And, of course, the Forum would not exist without the
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meal, and giving others the opportunity to support this venture. What started as an idea discussed around a table has become a real example of what can happen when organizations and individuals stop working in isolation and begin working together. It is more than just a meal. It is a place where people can sit together, connect with others and feel part of their community. And watch out, there is more to come. As the song goes 'you aint seen nothin yet'. And perhaps that is the real success of the North Grenville Community Forum. So put it in your calendar, our next meeting is September 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meeting will be held in the reception room of the Christian Reformed Church at 2455 County Road 18 in Kemptville. A light lunch will be served. Three years ago, there were doubts about whether bringing organizations together could work. Today, the Forum is still meeting, still growing and, most importantly, still finding ways to turn conversations into action. There is always more work to do, but the lesson from the past three years is a simple one: when a community comes together, good things can happen.
"Proudly serving our Community"
Dan Pettigrew Owner & friendly neighbour T: 613.774.1958 Dan.Pettigrew@sobeys.com foodland.ca 12015 Main Street Winchester, ON
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The Voice of North Grenville
Murderability to look at a building, Most Unexpected
A living legacy for Don Munz
by Marguerite Boyer On Saturday, September 12, a tree dedication and commemorative plaque were unveiled in downtown Kemptville, beside the library, in honour of the late Don Munz and his many contributions to the community. Deputy Mayor John Barclay delivered remarks on behalf of Council
and staff commemorating Don and reflecting on the extraordinary mark he left on North Grenville. When Don passed away earlier this year, the community was reminded of just how much he had given to the place he called home. He was an artist, a community builder and, perhaps most importantly, someone who saw possibility every-
a public space, a pathway or an empty wall and see not simply what was there, but what it could become. He never stopped caring about his community and was always willing to roll up his sleeves and help turn an idea into something tangible. On a beautiful, sunny morning, family members, friends and community members gathered to dedicate the tree and plaque. His family travelled from various parts of the United States to be part of the special occasion and to celebrate a man who had touched so many lives. The tree will grow and change with the seasons, hopefully standing for generations to come. In doing so, it will serve as a living reminder of Don Munz , artist, visionary, community builder and true champion of North Grenville.
where he looked. His legacy can be found all around us, in the murals and historic images throughout downtown, the Giving Garden, the flowers on the bridge, the Kinderwood Trail, the Legion silhouette project and in so many other places where Don contributed his creativity, energy and time. Don had a remarkable
Community collaboration blooms in Oxford Mills
by Cathie Raina It is murder mystery time again! The North Grenville Community Players have a new mystery inspired by a one-act play by Agatha Christie, so it has to be good! Enjoy an evening of dinner theatre laced with fear and suspense. Guests arrive for a cocktail party only to find the hosts are away, and when they try to leave find they are locked in!This show is a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity and the date is Saturday, October 3rd at St. John’s United
Church. Doors open at 4:30. Tickets are $50 and are available at B&H Grocery Store, ReStore, and Brewed Awakenings. Join us for a worthy cause and a fun evening - and with prizes for the Best and Not So Best answers as you try to solve this heinous crime!
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The new planter boxes on the Factory Bridge in Oxford Mills came about from the collaboration of the Oxford Mills Community Association, members of community, and the financial assistance of the municipality. The association brainstormed a plan and tweaked it as needed. The greatest cost was building the metal frames, which almost stopped the plan in its tracks. Thinking outside the box, we approached the tech teacher at North Grenville District High School who agreed to build the frames as a class project while the OMCA covered the cost of the materials. The wood was donated by a community member, and the shop teacher and students at St Michael Catholic High School built the boxes. As well, the horticultural specialist at the Kemptville Campus greenhouse provided us with a suggested list of plants and a planting plan. A community grant from the municipality covered 75 percent of the cost. Every individual and group that was approached was more than willing to lend their help and expertise. It is heartening to see so many people and groups pitch in to help make the hamlet a better place to live. Thank you all! Oxford Mills Community Association
September 17, 2026
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The Voice of North Grenville
Bishop’s Mills Holds Fundraising Concert Looking to enjoy some live local talent? T h e B i s h o p ’s M i l l s Community Association (BMCA) is holding its annual music concert on Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 in the Community Hall. This year we are pleased to feature the music of two popular lo-
cal acts: Mary Moore plus Rosewood. Bring along your friends and family for an enjoyable evening of music and our famous Bishop’s Mills refreshments. Tickets: $20 available from Susan Jenkins at 613-258-1645, Joan Tensen at 613-258-7425
NG Repair Café
North Grenville (Kemptville) Repair Café will start again on Sat September 26, 11-2pm in the Main library, 1Water St. We are always happy to have any volunteers who would like to become repairers. This year we are hoping to start a Linux
Repair Café where we would install Linux on old computers that will no longer have support for Windows 10. But, before this can happen, we need volunteers who would be able to learn how to do this and then teach and install the operating system. This will be a
or Linda Desroches at 613-258-2115. Funds raised go toward the upkeep of the Hall. This year’s event is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Community Association, which formed in the Village in 1976. The music event follows a very suc-
cessful community fun day held at the Park last month, which attracted young and old, long-time residents and many newcomers. The Community Hall is located 38 Main St., Bishop’s Mills. Free parking. All welcome. culverts
separate venture from the usual Repair Café. Please contact us anyway you prefer. We now have a website; kemptvillerepaircafe.netlify.app, as well as a FB page, or you may contact me at pmjh@ snowie.ca 613.258.3683.
Celebrating nearly a decade of impact
100 Women Who Care North Grenville gathered on
Thursday, September 10, for their third quarterly meeting—a fun-filled evening dedicated to local support, making connections, and community spirit. The evening was a clear testament to what generous hearts can accomplish together. It brought neighbours and friends, old and new, together under one roof to uplift local organizations doing vital work. Attendees heard inspiring presentations from three standout charities: Beth Donovan Hospice, the Ryan’s Well Foundation, and Naomi’s Family Resource Centre. Following a vote, Naomi’s Family Resource Centre was selected to receive the evening’s main donation. All three organizations left a lasting impression on everyone present. Guests also enjoyed a delicious meal provided by our sponsor Catered Affairs. Natalie Castellas and her team’s continued support remains a cornerstone of the group’s quarterly gatherings, nourishing both the members and the mission. For almost ten years, 100 Women Who Care North Grenville has done far more than raise funds—they have built lasting bridges across North Grenville, forging strong ties between residents, local businesses, and grassroots charities. Seeing the collective power of a compassionate community coming together to lift up those in need serves as a powerful reminder: when we unite for a common cause, real change happens. Almost $150,000 has been raised over the past 10 years! Our next meeting is on November 19 at Catered Af-
September 17, 2026
fairs. Everyone is welcome to attend, and to bring a friend. The enthusiasm in the room is contagious. We promise you will have a great time! To all current members, don't forget to make your donations by September 30, and nominations for a charity for
the next quarter can now be made. Both actions are through our website. Thank you to our community for your support and we hope to see you on November 19! 100womenwhocareng.com
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The Voice of North Grenville
Editorial
Yesterday once more by David Shanahan It may seem that Canada is facing unprecedented challenges today. Faced with American tariffs, threats of economic colonisation and even annexation as the 51st State. But History is a useful thing at times like this. Here’s an interesting scenario to consider. A Free Trade deal with the US is up for renewal, but the Americans want to refuse to negotiate it as it stands because, it claims, Canada has taken unfair advantage of the US and has acted as an enemy of the American government for too long. Negotiators from both sides meet in Washington, but there is a failure to come to terms because the Americans want too many concessions. Their avowed am-
Small Town There is a country song by Jason Aldean that talks about small town values and the protection we have by knowing the people and the town very well. He talks about not being able to get away with things in a small town because everyone knows everyone, however I would like to only focus on the positives we have in Kemptville. Kemptville has grown exponentially in the last 10 years as any longerterm resident knows. This affects our schools, our hospital, our roads as we all know. I was amazed at how our town came together to fund our new CT scanner and later the new X-ray machine. Truly amazing. We will have issues going forward to increase the size of the hospital and attract new doctors and nurses with the growth of the population but that is not what I want to focus on today. With the growth, we have had rising costs in taxes, hydro, gas heating, food, and many more things a lot of us take for granted and struggle through. We also have quite a few older residents that bought homes 30, 40, or even 50 years ago and have been the
September 17, 2026
bition is to weaken the Canadian economy to the point that it collapses, making the annexation to the US inevitable. Threats of military takeover of its northern neighbour are made loudly by elements of the American political elites. The Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives introduced a bill to allow for the entry into the United States of the Canadians. An American ambassador, in a public speech, urges his government to end the Free Trade deal in order to put pressure on Canada towards joining the United States. There was a serious concern that a section of the Canadian people were eager to separate from the rest of the country, acknowledging that this would be an almost
people working the stores, farms, restaurants etc. that we all enjoy today. They probably raised their children there in that house and supported their families the best they could. Maybe they never had the ability to buy and have been renters for their lives. They had no pensions and probably not a lot of savings, however they have the little home they paid for and looked after. Maybe have buried their spouse by now and are struggling. Now with the cost of living, they cannot pay the bills and are forced to sell their home or try to move to a cheaper apartment, and even with the money from the home there is no place they can afford in the town they grew up in. This is not Toronto or Vancouver or even Ottawa, this is Kemptville and there is nowhere for them to go. There is a charity that has started here that has built 4 affordable homes for seniors and is trying to raise enough to build 16 more. You may have seen the fund-raising attempts with the Toonies jars in some stores and restaurants around town and not fully understood what they were for, or you may have seen people at
Nor was this either the first or the last time Canada would face a similar situation. In the 1880's, the American administration were actively encouraging annexation supporters in both countries, and imposing high tariffs on Canadian goods as an economic weapon. The response of the Canadian Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald, was to develop what was called the National Policy: promoting east-west trade instead of north-south links with the States. Building a national railway line to join east to west, and seeking to strengthen Canada’s trade overseas, particularly through the British imperial connections. Today’s response to American tariffs seems very similar: promoting east-west trade by removing inter-provincial trade barriers, building national infrastructure projects, and opening stronger trade links with the European Union, China, India, and other alternatives to US markets. It is notable that Mark Carney knows his history and referred to Macdonald and the National Policy in a recent address to the country. There is a lot to be learned from history. Canada survived and prospered before: it will do so again. Which brings up another issue that should be of genuine concerns to all Canadians. The most recent study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]’s Programme for International Student Assessment [PISA] has shown a marked lowering of Canadian scores in Science, Math, and Reading among 15 year-olds over the past decade. Although Canada is still doing well overall on an international level,
inevitable first step to becoming an American State. It was even stated that the moves against Canada were part of an attempt by the American government to influence support for the upcoming mid-term elections by making the administration look strong. All of this sounds very familiar, I think. But it actually all happened 160 years ago, between 1865 and 1866. The Free Trade deal was called the Reciprocity Agreement of 1854, and it was due to be renewed after ten years. At the time, Canada was a Province, Confederation was being negotiated and the US administration were adamant that Britain withdraw completely from North America, leaving Canada vulnerable to American economic and military aggression.
places like B&H trying to raise funds. This is for our seniors here so they can live here in the town they raised their families in and where their few remaining friends are. We do not want them to be homeless on the streets. I know that there are lots of people that think many of the problems in our cities can be solved with affordable housing. I don’t know about that; however, I do believe that in a small town like Kemptville it is possible to find funds to provide affordable housing for our seniors. How we look after our seniors tells us a lot about ourselves. If you can, please give to the Toonie pledge. Their website is : https://shalomsmallhomeskemptville.org/ Lee Mosley Kemptville resident
Specializing in Residential House Beautification Weekly, Bi-Weekly, or One-time Cleans Servicing North Grenville and surrounding areas.
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there has been a worrying downward trend to results in all three areas since 2018. Canadian students scored 510 points in Science, a drop of 24 since 2006. Scores in reading and math dropped by 30 and 27 points respectively since 2018 (37 and 424 points since 2006). This is considered a statistically significant drop. Experts put the drop on standards down to three main causes: increased use of AI, an increase in “digital distractions”, and a shortage of in-class teachers. All three areas of concern, science, math and reading, are important; but reading, in particular, is an essential element in all areas of learning, foundational to being able to access, grasp, evaluate, and apply what there is to be learned. A recent article notes that democracy itself won’t survive the death of reading as “fewer people have the perspective or analytical tools to challenge” false narratives, misinformation, and AI slop. The drop in Canadian scores is also reflected in those of other countries surveyed by the OECD, and the impact of the pandemic is also attributed to the overall situation. It is estimated by UNICEF that schoolchildren around the world lost an incredible 1.8 trillion hours of inperson education because of Covid lockdowns, an astonishing figure. When added to the long-term decline reported by OECD, one wonders how much soon-to-be adult teachers,
TIMES Contact 613-215-0735
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ISSN 2291-0301
Mailing Address P.O. Box 1854, Kemptville, ON K0G 1J0
Editor David Shanahan editor@ngtimes.ca 613-215-0735 Reporter Talia Hreljac Talia@ngtimes.ca Marketing/Sales marketing@ngtimes.ca 613 215-0735 Graphic Designer Mary Moore graphics designer
613-215-0735 Accounting cfo@ngtimes.ca politicians, professionals, journalists and others will know their own history, have the perspective to understand and evaluate current events and developments. Instead of seeing things as “Yesterday Once More”, it will be more a matter of “Apocalypse Now”. Teach your children.
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:
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The Voice of North Grenville
Sunflowers offer a new view of 13 acres along County Road 43
by Heather Popazzi This summer, the stretch of land along County Road 43 offered North Grenville something unexpected: row after row of sunflowers. The sunflowers stretching across a portion of the 13 acres of Ferguson Forest Centre stewarded municipal land were planted by a Ferguson Forest Centre employee using a seed drill. The result was beautiful. It was also revealing. This same acreage had previously been characterized as nonarable soil, yet soil-survey data identifies it as Class 2 agricultural-soil. An important distinction in North Grenville, much of the land successfully farmed here today falls within that same agricultural zoning. After several years in which this portion of the property appeared largely without vegetative cover, conditions that can affect soil structure, aggregate stability
and biological activity, the sunflowers offered a striking reminder of the land’s potential. For residents, they provided something new: a visible demonstration of soil once again supporting successful cultivation and growth. A social-media post featuring the sunflower fields has now received more than 20,000 views according to platform insights, an extraordinary response to what was, at its heart, simply a field of flowers beside a road. Perhaps that response tells us something. The sunflowers generated invaluable public relations for the Ferguson Forest Corporation, the kind of authentic visibility organizations strive to create. Against the backdrop of development along County Road 43, they became a powerful expression of North Grenville’s agricultural heritage and future. That is what progress
Ferguson Forest Centre’s mandate; they strengthen it, creating new opportunities for agricultural grants, partnerships and investment while demonstrating how the land is an asset that supports the Centre’s long-term sustainability. The Ferguson Forest Centre employee who took the time to plant those rows created something unexpectedly powerful. Whether that was the intention or not, the field became a living illustration of possibility and a source of unexpected collective joy. For a community that has spent considerable time debating what these 13 acres should not become, the sunflowers offered a glimpse of what they could become: a productive agricultural landscape, and an agritourism opportunity. They gave us something people are always searching for: a view. One that quietly acknowledges our farming neighbours who work the land, grow our food and sustain the agricultural landscape around us. North Grenville’s character. In an increasingly hurried world, perhaps that was their gift: a moment of awe, a reason to look up, and a reminder that the land still has the power to bring us together.
looks like: honouring what came before while making room for what comes next and allowing both to grow side by side. Roadside sunflower fields have become attractions in communities across Ontario. People stop for photographs, families visit, and cyclists and walkers are drawn to them. They become seasonal landmarks, a simple form of sustainable rural tourism with strong agritourism appeal. That kind of tourism draws people in, keeps them in the community longer, and turns simple visitation into local economic activity. To residents in North Grenville, the sunflowers did something more. For years, the discussion surrounding these 13 acres along County Road 43 has largely centred on planning, land-use designations and the possibility of future intensification. That intensification overlay has been removed, and almost simultaneously, nature and a seed drill gave residents another picture of what this prominent gateway to North Grenville might become. North Grenville is a community deeply connected to agriculture. The fields surrounding Kemptville are not simply scenery; they are working landscapes. Generations of local farmers have cultivated the soils of this municipality, adapting crops and farming practices to the conditions beneath them. Agriculture. Pollinator habitat. Demonstration crops. Educational programming. A seasonal destination. A green gateway into the community. Those ideas do not compete with the
175th Anniversary Service St. Paul's
On September 27 at 10:30am, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church is holding a Special 175th Anniversary Service. We welcome everyone who would like to join us for this special occasion at 319 Prescott St., Kemptville.
Presentation from Leeds Grenville Branch OGS Join us on Monday, October 5 at 7:00 pm via Zoom for a presentation by Linda Corupe entitled Using Ontario’s Heir and Devisee records in Family History Research. We will explore the records of our province's Heir and Devisee records, an important but sometimes overlooked resource for family historians and genealogists. Beginning ca. 1797, and continuing until the 20th century, the Heir and Devisee Commissions left behind a wealth of information. We’ll look at why these records were created, what information they can reveal about land ownership, inheritance, and family relationships, and how they can help connect ancestors to specific places and properties. The presentation will also provide an overview of how and where to find and interpret these records. Professional Genealogist, Family History Researcher and author of over 50 books, Linda Corupe, UE, has been researching genealogy and family history in Ontario and Quebec for more than 40 years. Her publications are invaluable resources for anyone researching the early years of Upper Canada. To register for this presentation, click here or visit our Branch website https:// leedsandgrenville.ogs.on.ca for more details. September 17, 2026
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The Voice of North Grenville
Senior Times
Paul A. Jansen, BA, LLB.
Rachel S. Jansen, B.Comm., J.D.
215 Van Buren Street, Kemptville 613.258.7462 jansenlaw.com
Real Estate - Wills & Estates - Family Law - Corporate
September Is the real New Year I have never trusted January. It is dark, it is cold, and every good intention gets buried under a coat of ice by the third week. September is different. Let me tell you about a woman who walked into my studio last week. She had been out and about, saw my road sign, and popped in saying she wanted to start something new before the winter drove her indoors. "I'm a fitness gal," she said. She told me she had played all the golf possible this past summer, but at 79, she wanted to try something new. There you go. Happy September New Year! Next month, the golf clubs go back in the closet. The pickleball courts get chilly. The garden gets put to bed. We weren't crowned Canada's Most Active Community for nothing. We are a busy town with lots to do. All summer you were moving without thinking about it, and you would like to keep that going. You just need somewhere to go, and Kemptville has you covered. That is the thing I love most about this town in the fall. Everybody is starting something, and most of it will keep you active, either physically or mentally. Many businesses will let you try a few classes for free if you're not sure it's your style. Try before you buy! Seniors' Community Services on Sanders Street has a full lineup of fall programs, and I am tickled to be back teaching my loud and lively cardiodrumming class for them. The Farmers' Market is still on every Sunday. The youth musical theatre has a show coming. There is a brand-new Oktoberfest in early October at the W.B. George Centre. New studios have popped up to teach piano and guitar and even singing, just in time for choir season. Speaking of which. The inspirational Jingle Jangle Choir started rehearsals this week for our November 29 show at the Urbandale Arts Centre, raising money for the House of Lazarus. Save. The. Date! Then, over at The Workshop Dance Studio, we have some amazing Senior Fitness classes through the week at 11 a.m. Aimed at all Kemptville seniors, some are gentler than others, some will make you sweat enough to fill a hot tub, and some are sold out, like our Tai Chi series. I can't promise you a spot on Broadway, but if dancing is more your thing, there are several classes and styles starting up in September. For most of them you don't need a partner, just the realization that dancing is also fitness. Most people leave a little taller, stronger and lighter on their feet. So here is my September resolution for you. Pick one thing. Just one. Then do what my new 79-year-old fitness friend did. Just pop in. Happy New Year, Kemptville. I will see you in class and around town. Nancy Morgan The Workshop Dance Studio, Kemptville theworkshopdancestudio.com
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The Voice of North Grenville
White Man’s Footprint on County Road 18
The effects of AI on adolescents
Broad-leaved Plantain, Plantago major, along St Lawrence Street in Bishops Mills, 12 September 2026: (left) plant that pushed up through asphalt applied on 23 July, (right) nearby plant on gravel road shoulder. Aleta Karstad photo.
by Anika Modi I yawn wearily as the phone’s dim light illuminates my face, my thumb hovering over the screen. My eyes roll in frustration as my assignment lay scattered on my bed. My mouth twitches as I glance over at the clock. Is it really evening already? I gaze pensively at the ChatGPT icon sitting hauntingly in front of me. Perhaps with its aid I could perceivably complete the dreadful homework. A mere click and the toil would be completed before I even had time to think. And
by Fred Schueler – Fragile Inheritance Natural History It’s said that Broad-leaved Plantain, Plantago major, was one of the first European plants settlers brought to North America, and that because of its rapid spread along trampled paths it was called “white man’s footprint” by some indigenous groups. Its toughness is exemplified by a plant which came up through the black gravel-like material which the Counties use in place of asphalt, eleven days after they dumped it, on 23 July, in some gaps in St Lawrence Street in Bishops Mills, and by the abundance of small plants in fruit along the road shoulders and in cracks in the pavement. Broad-leaved Plantain is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has invaded widely throughout the rest of the world. It does well in trampled and compacted soils, such as road shoulders, but larger plants are found on less disturbed sites. The leaves have a nice mushroomy flavour in salads or as potherbs, though their veins are quite stringy. The genus Plantago has some 200 species worldwide, including several species of specialized habitats in North America, but our only other local species is another Eurasian, the Narrow-leaved Plantago lanceolata, with its small flowerheads on stalks that can be as much as half a metre tall, not growing in such hard conditions as its broad-leaved congener.
Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness can restore our faith in people, so we invite you to share the random acts of kindness you witness in our community or elsewhere, you can leave out names if you wish. Email editor@ngtimes.ca
September 17, 2026
With time running short, Sergeant Major Dave Connolly and Warrant Officer Hannah Gaultois spotted several American tour buses nearby and decided there was nothing to lose by asking for help. They approached Lisa Busch, owner of Prime Tours. Although the musicians were not wearing their full uniforms at the time, Busch noticed their instruments and quickly understood that this was more than just a transportation problem. They had a ceremony to get to, and they needed to get there on time. The Americans welcomed the band aboard their bus and delivered them safely to the community centre.It was a simple act of kindness, but one that carried a remarkable meaning.
ChatGPT and Gemini to complete academic assignments. This practice reduces our ability to ponder effectively and think critically. Such skills are essential for future employment opportunities and guidance throughout life. The decrease in these abilities is withholding our vast potential. Additionally, A.I. diminishes our capacity to create and read by providing us with elementary summaries and producing concepts on behalf of us, limiting our prospects to form ideas ourselves. Ultimately, A.I. can serve as both a beneficial or a detrimental, resource depending on how we employ it.
Ron's
Small Engine Repair 613.258.9720
ronssmallengines@outlook.com 1 Jayland Drive, Kemptville (across from old Bingo Hall)
Flashing red lights on school buses mean STOP. Every. Single. Time.
A kindness returned in Gander by Nina Tachuk Twenty-five years after the people of Gander opened their hearts and homes to thousands of stranded airline passengers following the attacks of September 11, 2001, a group of Americans found themselves with an opportunity to return the favour. This time, the people in need were members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment’s military band. On September 11, as Gander prepared to mark the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, the band’s transportation broke down while the musicians were stopped at a Mary Brown’s Chicken restaurant. They were due at the Steele Community Centre for the town’s official commemorative ceremony, but their vehicle simply would not start.
maybe that's the foremost issue. Our world is developing, and Artificial intelligence bears unparalleled influence upon our generation. However, while A.I.’s prowess is increasing, our ability to critically think, create and read is depleting unprecedentedly fast. Research concludes that A..I brings numerous positive benefits, such as amplifying the accessibility to masses of information, as well as personalizing lessons to simplify concepts and promote further understanding. Nevertheless, A.I. has extensive negative impacts on youth along with the advantages. Many adolescents have become dependent on sources such as
Twenty-five years earlier, it was the people of Gander and surrounding communities who welcomed Americans and other passengers whose flights had been diverted following 9/11. Strangers were given food, shelter, clothing and friendship during an uncertain and frightening time. This time, it was Americans who came to the rescue in Gander. Kindness does not have a border, and sometimes a favour returned years later reminds us that the good we do can travel much farther, and last much longer than we ever realize.
Be aware. Be patient. Every student deserves to be safe.
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The Voice of North Grenville
The Story of our schools
Resistance to Change by David Shanahan Although the one-room schools of North Grenville only closed in 1964, the Ontario Government had been advocating and encouraging the consolidation of rural schools since early in the century. The Ontario of 1900 was very different from Upper Canada, where the Common Schools Acts were first passed. It was becoming an increasingly urban society, depending more on industry than agriculture, and this had led to a move away from farming and rural occupations for most of the population. As rural schools found their enrollment decreasing year by year, it was becoming difficult for school trustees to find qualified teachers willing to put up with the more primitive facilities of the one-room schoolhouse. Salaries were higher in the towns and cities, and urban life was more comfortable. By 1900, salaries paid in urban centres were three times those to be found in the country. In a 1913 study of education in Canada, it was found that 93% of all uncertified teachers were working in rural parts of the country, and that the great majority of rural teachers held the lowest grade of certificates in the profession. The provincial government was also concerned that the type of curriculum being taught in rural areas of Ontario was largely irrelevant to the lives the pupils would be leading after finishing school. Classics, English Literature and History were not very useful for small farmers, and it was even possible that having such an education would actually encourage young people to move to the urban areas to “improve” their lives and career prospects. Rural schools were now seen as a serious obstacle to the growth and prosperity of the country at large, producing a lower quality of school-leaver. As the Ontario Department of Education considered adopting the consolidated school model for the province, closing the one-room schoolhouses and transporting pupils to a centralised, multi-roomed school, the Minister for Education, R. H. Grant, issued a Report in 1920 describing the situation of the rural schools in some detail. There were 5,757 rural schools in Ontario that September 17, 2026
year, of which “at least five thousand” were one-teacher schools. In North Grenville, they were funded primarily through local taxation, with the school sections themselves contributing more than half the money used to maintain them and pay the teachers. The Townships supplied about a third of the funds and the rest, a very small percentage, came from the province. Teachers’ salaries had increased over the previous decade, but were still considered inadequate by the Department. Women teachers in rural schools had seen their pay rise from $382 per year in 1908, to $609 in 1918, but this was far below the salary earned by women teachers in urban areas, which could reach as high as $822 per year. This was also far below the level of male teacher salaries, which explains why men made up just over 6% of all rural teachers in the province. This income gap between rural and urban teachers had led to a shortage of qualified teachers in the traditional one-room schoolhouses, but that was not the only reason for the lower standards (though clearly the most important). The lack of basic facilities and equipment in the rural schools, and the heavier burden on individual teachers, was also a major factor. The Department believed that is was “an imperative necessity to plan and carry out a comprehensive scheme of improvement for rural schools”. That scheme was to the consolidation of rural schools: closing most, if not all, of the one-room schools and building one central Public School to replace them. This was an obvious step to take, given the dwindling enrollment at many of the one-room schools. In 1918 Ontario had 1,400 schools with ten or less pupils, 524 schools with between six and nine pupils, and five schools only had a single pupil enrolled. Rather than having the advantage of such a low teacher-pupil ratio, the fact was that it was impossible for most rural children to get the same quality of education, and therefore the same opportunities, as those in urban areas. The Report laid out the situation in clear and blunt language: “Too many coun-
try boys and girls are not receiving the equality of opportunity in education to which they are entitled. Their chances of taking up High School work without leaving home and going to some town or city being remote, the result is that some do not stay long enough at school to pass the high school entrance examination. The 1920 Report on schools in Ontario had laid bare the extremely uneven level of schooling available in rural versus urban communities. The fact was that larger, what were called “Consolidated Schools”, were able to provide a better standard of education in the minds of the Department of Education officials. They had better facilities, equipment, libraries, gyms, and teaching opportunities. Pupils were separated into classes according to age, and the larger teaching staff could focus on one grade and class, rather than have their time and attention divided among children of varying ages and abilities. With the Consolidated Schools Act, 1919 the process of closing and consolidating schools had begun. Financial incentives were provided to school Trustees to combine with other school sections and districts to build a consolidated school and to establish a transportation network to “bus” children to the new central school. The curriculum in these schools would be adapted to the local economic opportunities of the children. The Department of Education issued a pamphlet in 1922 to reassure parents and trustees that these new consolidated schools would remain under their control and ownership: “There is in the process of evolution in this Province a new educational institution, which will provide for farm boys and girls, primary and secondary education in a consolidated school owned and conducted by the community, in which the instruction and course of study are closely adjusted to the lives that the pupils are later to lead.” On becoming Premier of Ontario in 1923, Kemptville native, G. Howard Ferguson, also took on the role of Minister for Education, and in that position he worked hard to convince trustees to accept the consolidation scheme. He was unsuccess-
ful, though he tried year after year to promote the scheme. He did not feel it right that the government enforce the scheme on local trustees, and so resistance to the change succeeded in preventing any alteration to the tradition school section model. The question of control had always been a major concern for parents and local communities since the early days of Egerton Ryerson’s program for education. In the 1840's and 1850's, any move away from local control was resisted, and the idea of a governmentregulated school system was looked on with grave suspicion. The basic arrangement of each school section having three locally selected Trustees managing the school house, the teacher, and the day-to-day administration was deeplyrooted in areas like Oxford-on-Rideau and South Gower. As early as 1871, provision had been made to set up Township Boards to replace the individual School Sections. This would mean that all the schools in Oxford-on-Rideau, or South Gower, would unite under a single Board of Education
and administer all the township schools as a unit. Neither of the townships agreed to this proposal, eager to maintain separate control over their school section, in spite of the advantages of a Townshipwide system. The Village of Kemptville, however, did form a unified Board with Oxford Township in 1873 to administer one Public School, as well as the High School. Kemptville was one of the very few such Boards in Ontario, as the resistance to centralised control, even at the township level, was to continue for another seventy years, until the Township School Areas were adopted in 1945-46. The efforts of the Ontario government to con-
solidate the rural schools was an almost complete failure, particularly in this area, It was not until the years after World War Two that any substantial change in local school organisation was successfully attempted. There is a wonderful film, dating from 1921, in which the Department of Education sought to sell the idea of rural school consolidation to citizens. It is called “The Rugged Road to Learning”, and, although it failed of its original purpose, it provides wonderful visual record of daily school life for children in rural Ontario at the time. It is available on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=lR9tX_zdAw4.
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Join the North Grenville Indigenous Advisory Circle, Indigenous Leaders, Council and members of the public as we come together in honour of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Saturday, September 26th 12:00 pm (Noon) Mino-jichaag Mtigwaaki 241 Honour Way, Ferguson Forest
Event will include speakers, drumming, food, and companionship. Everyone welcome!
northgrenville.ca/reconciliation 8
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The Voice of North Grenville
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. Indian dress 5. Documents 9. Your majesty 13. Distinctive flair 14. Conscious 16. Notion 17. Auspices 18. Transparent green gemstone 19. Foot digits 20. Trousers 22. With sadness 24. Soft greasy substances 26. Female demon 27. Torments 30. Circus 33. Stronghold 35. Glacial ice formation 37. Metric unit of area 38. Rigid 41. Weep 42. Pauses
45. Small carnivorous fishes 48. Pilings 51. Inheritance 52. Metal money 54. Sounds of reproof 55. Ulcerous 59. Thespian 62. Make well 63. Muse of poetry 65. Diva's solo 66. One of the Great Lakes 67. Satan 68. Sodium chloride 69. Bend 70. Sow 71. Otherwise DOWN 1. Exude 2. Seaweed 3. Jungle trees 4. Blink of an eye 5. Apply gently
6. Was indebted to 7. Christmas song 8. 1st American space station 9. Put 10. False god 11. Bobbin 12. Not difficult 15. Varnish resin 21. Arouse 23. Dried fruits 25. Notices 27. At a distance 28. Impales 29. Supersonic transport 31. Composed for an orchestra 32. Monetary units of Serbia 34. Small mouthful 36. Vesicle 39. Little lie 40. Worry 43. Titillated ' 44. Blackthorn 46. Blue shade 47. Crank 49. Fatigued 50. Breathes noisily while sleeping 53. Debonair 55. Cook 56. Pertaining to flight 57. Type of fastener 58. Anagram of "Ties" 60. Lubricates 61. Assess 64. Not new
CMMUNITY FORUM Our next meeting is September 23, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meeting will be held in the reception room of the Christian Reformed Church at 2455 County Road 18 in Kemptville. A light lunch will be served. Youngsters of Yore. Meet every Thursday at NG Library September 17th, Chris Morgan Musician September 24th Roger and Janet Stark NB Trip NORTH GRENVILLE PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB Meets from 7 - 9 PM on the 1st Wednesday of each month (Sept - June) at Grenville Mutual Insurance, 380 Colannade Dr., Kemptville. Welcoming photographers of all skill levels. Email contact@ngphotoclub.ca for more info. Kemptville Youth Musical Theatre Company presents the Tony award winning musical Something Rotten Sept 26 - Oct 10 at the Urbandale Arts Centre in Kemptville. Come out and see this fantastic show with some amazing talent. KEMPTVILLE LEGION BINGO, every 1st and 3rd Wednesday from 1-3 pm. Doors open at noon. NEW - Kemptville Legion Evening Bingo, every third Sunday of the month from 6:30-8:30 pm. Doors open at 5:30 pm 2ND ANNUAL LOCAL ARTISAN MARKET taking place at the Kemptville Legion on October 25 from 10-3. Both the Upper and Lower floors of the Legion will be filled with local artisans, and everyone is invited to come and support our local artisans.
Solutions to last week’s Sudoku
Easy
Hard
September 17, 2026
Medium
Solution to last week’s Crossword
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KEMPTVILLE YOUTH CENTRE is open Monday to Friday from 2pm to 6pm daily for drop-in programming. Ages 11 to 19. Jr. Youth Night 2nd Monday of the month from 6pm to 8pm. Ages 8 to 11. No pre-registration required. All programming at KYC is FREE. Follow us on Facebook to view other scheduled events and programs. KEMPTVILLE LEGION: Fridays 3-9. Free Pool and Darts. Everyone Welcome NG DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB Masonic Lodge 311 Van Buren Kemptivlle, 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. NG COMMUNITY MEALS ASSOCIATION Every Tuesday, 4-7 PM Free or by Donation Dinner ( serving dinner until 6:30 pm) Where: Pvt. Blake Williamson Memorial Hall, (Old Fire Hall) 25 Reuben Cres.Everyone is welcome. Bring clean indoor shoes 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 613-9893830 for more details. 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 7:00 - 9:30pm. North Grenville Municipal Center County Road 44 For more info call Robert Taylor (613) 853-5634, or email grenvillegremlins09@gmail. com. NORTH GRENVILLE MEN’S SHED We meet every Tuesday and Thursday morning, 8:30 to 10:30, at 2 Oxford St. West. Contact northgrenvillemensshed@gmail.com for more information. KEMPTVILLE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY meetings are held monthly, except July, August & December. They are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Kemptville Pentecostal Church. NG PRIDE: 2SLGBTQAI+ Seniors and allies meet 2 - 4pm the first and third Sunday of each month at the NG Library. Join us for coffee, chat, cards and shenanigans. Looking to stay connected, informed, and inspired in retirement? JOIN THE PROBUS CLUB OF NORTH GRENVILLE a friendly group of retirees who meet monthly for conversation, laughter, and thought-provoking presentations. Gatherings take place the third Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Hall. For details, email n.g.probus97@gmail. com CAREGIVER COFFEE is a welcoming monthly drop-in for caregivers to pause, connect, and feel supported. Join us the last Tuesday of each month from 1–3 PM at Beth Donovan Hospice. Free, casual, and open to all caregivers. JOIN NORTH GRENVILLE TOASTMASTERS! Build confidence. Improve communication. Become a better leader. We meet the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., in person at 215 Sanders Street, Suite 200, or via Zoom. Guests are always welcome. Come discover your voice! EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road. Tuesday, August 4, 18, September 1, 15, 29. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. BID EUCHRE at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road. Tuesday, July 28, August 11, 25, September 8, 22. Registration starts at 6:00 p.m., play starts at 6:30 p.m. SPEED EUCHRE 10X10 at Pierce's Corners (aka the Marlborough Community Centre) at 3048 Pierce Road. Sunday, September 20. Registration starts at 12:30 p.m., play starts at 1:00 p.m. 10x10 means you play 10 games with as many euchre hands as you can within 10 minutes per game, for unlimited points. Stick the dealer: if everyone passes, the dealer must call a trump suit.
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The Voice of North Grenville
Common Sense Health
Your nose knows more than you think
The nose is not our most attractive feature. No line of Shakespeare reads, “O blessed nose! Had Heaven made thee as comely as thine office is noble…” But the human snout deserves more attention. It is constantly paying attention for us. And we are learning astonishing things about what it can detect.
Compared with a bloodhound, our noses are inadequate. Humans have 5-6 million scent receptors in the nose. A bloodhound has 300 million. The portion of a dog's brain devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times larger than ours. Some birds also have remarkable beaks. Turkey
It might happen like this. You walk into a room. Someone is frightened. They haven't said anything or made eye contact. But somehow you become a little more alert yourself. Body odours are being rebranded as “chemosignals”. And we can sense these signals in instances of fear and stress. Some research suggests we can also sense positive emotional states, such as happiness, from detectable chemical information. How the molecular chemistry works isn’t yet clear. And critics point out that laboratory experiments are considerably more controlled than ordinary human life. But in thinking through your life, have there not been times when you “smelled” someone passing by in a peculiar way – not their odour, per se, but their emotions? Scientists are also learning new things about our noses and disease. Our bodies constantly release hundreds of volatile organic compounds – chemicals that can be detected in breath, sweat, skin, urine and other bodily materials.
Vultures can detect gases released by decaying carcasses. They have helped workers locate leaking natural gas pipelines, attracted by the sulfur compounds added to otherwise odorless gas. But now, emerging research may change perceptions of human olfactory skills. Scientists have discovered, for example, that when people are frightened or under stress, their body odour changes. Some scientists believe that other people can detect that odour without realizing it. An analysis of 26 studies involving more than 1,600 people found evidence that fear, stress and anxiety can be communicated through body odour.
73’s pre-season sessions solidify final team roster by G.J. the sportsguy
Wednesday evening trek into Ottawa for Kemptville rematch with Junior Senators seeking redemption that unfolded positive with a 5 to 2 revenge. Ottawa came out hot with a lone effort from Henry Brady to beat Cesare Lucas Della Santina at 4:52 in the initial twenty. Kemptville changed up their stopper with Jacob Turpin in the middle stanza at 9:17 and he was greeted to the contest with a PPG from Cameron Sheppard with helpers from Campbell and Christianson at 14:28. Kemptville with 5 on 4 attack when Carter Scott punched it home behind Kadden Clegg to spoil his SO at 18:17. Issac Arsenault for Kemptville knotted it up at two in the third at 4:05. Ottawa game winner at 9:16 with PPG from Cedrik St.Pierre assisted by Sheppard with Molloy blowing it by Jacob Turpin for tie breaker. A man advantage for Ottawa Juniors when Gianetti with Traynor found Nathan Chevarie in the slot for the insurance PPG at 11:43. Deklyn Campbell with Alfredson and St. Pierre capped it off for the Junior Senators 5 to 2 win. Kemptville outshot Ottawa 26 to 22 with 1/7 PP to 3/4 PP. Kemptville 73’s hosted the Carleton Place Canadians on Friday evening with the home boys doubling up with another 5 to 2 victory. The initial period opened and closed scoreless with even SOG at eight. Carleton Place lit the lamp in the second when Frenette with Lapier caught Adamo Ghantous for PPG past Jacob Turpin at 1:20.
September 17, 2026
Arsenault challenged Canadian’s stopper with Riley Steska on the doorstep to pump it in for the tie at 2:00. Pocket Rocket Mbarushimana from the trenches to Trickey Dickey who chipped it across to Case Hennesy on the line at 6:23 for Kemptville PPG. Cesare Lucas Della Santina replaced Jacob Turpin for the 73’s at 10:30. Carleton Place started the final frame with an extra attacker when Ghantous with Hatzitheodosiou to Noah Godin PPG from the lane at 4:09. Game winner for the 73’s when Mbarushimana off the wall to Hennesy who flipped it to Thomas Dickey PPG in the weeds at 10:22. Final push for the Canadians with net vacancy and extra attacker when aggressive steal by Dougherty to Jay Zeus Mbarushimana jetting by his chaser into open net insurance at 17:10. Ethan Suski pulled at 17:23 for another push and the skillful tenacity of Darius Nichols found the target at 19:05 for ENG to make it another 5 to 2 closer. The fuse was lit from puck drop and finally ignited into an explosion at the final bell when Brody Clookey took exception to Byron Box’s assault and used his head as a speed bag to send a message. Kemptville overpowered their opponents 43 to 23 with 2/4 PP to 2/6 PP. The Colts of Cornwall galloped into the 73’s barn for a Sunday matinee showdown to wrap up the preseason, doubling down 4 to 2 over the homies. The first frame was vicious end to end action when Hennesy broke through with Nichols on cue and Julien Kemp drove it by Coulton
Rheaume for the 73’s first blood at 9:54. Colts countered at 11:07 with Gauthier partnering up with Dax McKinnon to rip it past Cesare Lucas Della Santina. Cornwall with extra man when McMillan and Rockwell held the line who slipped to Timothy Walker in the triangle to even it up at 7:16 of the middle salvo. Kemptville removed their stopper for Jacob Turpin at 9:41 and the extra curricular activity continued after the whistle by the Colts. This seemed to be the game plan to throw the 73’s off stride and definitely worked as the sin bin became a reviving door. The train jumped the tracks as Kemptville found themselves standing at the station as Cornwall’s game winner with McKinnon and Aurelius found Alex Brown in the slot at 10:18. Reid combined with Dax McKinnon for the insurance and second marker of the afternoon. Mbarushimana off the half boards to Thomas Dickey screaming over the middle, rifled a heater at 14:30 to put Kemptville within two. At 18:41 the 73’s pulled Jacob Turpin for a final push without success and fell flat with 4 to 2 loss. Kemptville outshot Cornwall 43 to 31 SOG with 0/4 PP to 1/3 PP. Home opener with Nepean Rangers to begin the regular schedule on Friday evening and then Sunday matinee meeting with Renfrew Wolves. Hockey with EDGE… CU around the wall.
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When metabolism changes because of infection or disease, the chemical mixture can change too. It’s possible that diseases have distinctive chemical fingerprints. This has produced extraordinary experiments involving dogs, electronic noses and laboratory instruments capable of identifying volatile compounds. Scientists are investigating whether these signatures could eventually help detect diseases earlier or more cheaply than conventional methods. Parkinson's disease provides an intriguing example. Loss or reduction of the sense of smell – called hyposmia – is common in Parkinson's disease and can appear before the better-known movement problems. Studies involving thousands of patients have found that smell testing can be effective in distinguishing Parkinson's disease from other conditions that can look similar. That doesn't mean a poor sense of smell diagnoses Parkinson's disease. Many healthy people have a poor
sense of smell, especially as they get older. Nasal problems, medications, infections and other conditions can affect it. But it does mean that scientists are taking the nose seriously as a possible window into the brain. Helen Keller, renowned American humanitarian who was deaf and blind from early childhood, referred to the nose as “the fallen angel”. She’d be pleased that modern science is beginning to restore the nose to a central focus. So if you suddenly lose your sense of smell – or notice a substantial unexplained change – it may be nothing more than a cold, allergies, medication or aging. But you might want to mention it to your doctor. And if someone passes by, and you can’t explain your interest, for better or for worse, go get a better sniff. This column offers opinions on health and wellness, not personal medical advice. Visit www. docgiff.com to learn more. For comments, diana@ docgiff.com.
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The Voice of North Grenville
The Food Corner by Paul Cormier, Salamanders of Kemptville There is the staid old Thanksgiving turkey, where you plop the bird in a roasting pan with a few spices and cook the heck out it till the meat falls off the bone. Or, you can invest a little more time in improving the turkey’s flavour and tenderness. This you can easily do by marinating your turkey. This week’s recipe walks you through how to get a perfect bird by using just a bit more of your culinary talent. Try Marinated Turkey for Thanksgiving this year, a recipe adapted from Taste of Home, November 2017.
Marinated Turkey
Ingredients 1 turkey, somewhere around 12 to 15 pounds 2 cups each of water and chicken broth (low salt, preferably), combined 1 cup of soya sauce (also the low salt variety) ¾ cup of lemon juice 3 minced garlic cloves 2 tablespoons of dry ground ginger 1 teaspoon each of pepper and sage 2 turkey-sized roasting bags, placed one inside the other to make them double Preparation • Place the turkey into the combined roasting bags • Mix the other ingredients and pour in the bags as a marinade, except for 1 cup • Seal the bags tightly, pressing out as much air as you can • Turn the bags several times to coat the turkey entirely • Place in your roasting pan and refrigerate overnight; turn frequently when you can • Also refrigerate your remaining cup of marinade; you’ll need it for basting • When ready to cook, pre-heat your oven to 325F; take the turkey out of the bag • Place 1/8 an inch of marinade in the bottom of the pan and throw away the rest • Cook for up to 4 hours or until your thermometer reads 175F degrees • Baste repeatedly with the cup of marinade that you kept for that purpose hen you see the turkey beginning to brown, cover lightly with aluminium foil. When done, take your turkey out of the oven and let it “rest” for at 10 minutes before carving. You can use the pan drippings to make gravy; just skim the fat and thicken with corn starch. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll give you some recipes for what to serve with your Marinated Turkey. Many thanks from pcormier@ ranaprocess.com.
Marge Moss
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marge Moss, a kind, generous and caring woman whose love for her family and willingness to help others touched many lives. Marge was predeceased by her husband, Richard Moss; her son, Blake Moss; her parents, Eric and Mary Johnson; and her sisters, Lorie Johnson and Shirley Johnson. She will be lovingly remembered by her son Barry Moss and daughter-in-law Lori; her granddaughters, Rebecca and Sarah (Riley) Armstrong; her cherished great-granddaughter Isabelle Mae; her brother Robert Johnson (Barbara); her nephew Eric Johnson; her niece Shannon Johnson; and her extended family and friends. Marge worked in the family business from a young age and later baked pastries at the family restaurant in Smiths Falls. She was a wonderful cook and a talented artist who enjoyed painting in oils and watercolours. She also loved travelling and making memories with family and friends. Marge believed strongly in helping others. She volunteered throughout her life and was always willing to lend a helping hand to someone in need. Her kindness and generosity were felt by everyone around her. She loved a good game of euchre and was a fierce competitor - especially if she caught you reneging. Above all, Marge will be remembered for her warm smile, kind heart and love for her family. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. In memory of Marge, the family would appreciate donations to palliative care, whose support and compassion meant so much during her final days.
VOLUNTEERING IS THE
e a r t b e a t H OF OUR COMMUNITY
September 17, 2026
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The Voice of North Grenville
Baldwin's Birds
Immature Cardinal
Unkempt Youth My subject this week of Unkempt Youths might be now out of date, since two weeks in a bird’s life and in its ability to grow new feathers fairly quickly might not be, hopefully, relevant now! The nesting pair of adult Cardinals has produced at least one offspring, who has been visiting us, occasionally alone. I was able to get quite a few shots of him/her when it came looking for food from one of my garden feeders, a short way from the front of our house. This young bird is still a bit scruffy looking, but by the time that you get to read this it will be in full plumage, I should imagine. Apart from the odd feather being still out of place and the head not being fully red feathered, its other coloured areas are looking quite vibrant already. The beak is especially very bright red colored and makes for a very handsome and prominent feature in such a young bird. Good luck to it in its future life as a songster too! Another more rambunctious member of the youth section is the family of Bluejays, five or six of them, who have been invading my hanging feeders with great gusto! They tend to put some of the other birds off from feeding, being larger than them, but they don’t deter them for very long. In fact, sometimes when they come in, they lack the finesse of landing on the food and end up flying off in frustration! Ha! Ha! Serves them right! They are not able to disguise themselves either, because they have a very distinctive dark head colouring, so are not easily confused by anyone, as being adult birds! The Robins we had nesting at the back of my workshop came and went so quickly it doesn’t seem possible that they had chicks, but they did! I got a couple of glimpses of them and then all went quiet. There was no indication that they would be departing so quickly, and no young Robins have been seen by myself or my wife, so I hope that they are OK! With the hot days that we have had this year my finger are crossed that the wildlife have survived it successfully, especially any of it that got caught up in any of Canada’s fire zones! Stay safe and well, Cheers, John Baldwin
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